$42 million awarded to Abu Gharib victims, US contractor held liable for torture

In a landmark decision, a U.S. jury has awarded $42 million to three former detainees of Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.

The jury held military contractor CACI liable for its role in prisoner abuse nearly 20 years ago.

It awarded plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages.

Although CACI’s interrogators did not directly torture prisoners, the plaintiffs argued the company was complicit by conspiring with military police to “soften” or abuse detainees for questioning.

The lawsuit was filed in 2008 but was delayed by 15 years of legal wrangling and multiple attempts by CACI to have the case dismissed.

The verdict follows a retrial in Virginia.

It marks the first time a U.S. jury has addressed Abu Ghraib abuse claims.

Former U.S. Army reservist Sergeant Joseph Darby blew the whistle on torture and abuse at the prison during the Iraq war. This included physical abuse, sexual humiliation, physical and psychological torture, rape, as well as the murder of prisoner Manadel al-Jamadi and the desecration of his body. 

The abuses were made public through the publication of photographs by CBS News in April 2004. 

They caused shock and outrage, and led to widespread condemnation within the United States and internationally. 

Representing the plaintiffs, Baher Azmy of the Center for Constitutional Rights hailed the decision as a “shining light for justice.” 

CACI’s legal team remained silent on potential appeals.