### US Defence Contractor Ordered to Pay $42m for Abu Ghraib Torture

A federal jury in the United States has ruled that defence contractor CACI must pay $42 million to three Iraqi men who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison. The decision concludes a 15-year legal struggle surrounding the role of the Virginia-based company and its civilian employees in the abuse that occurred at the prison.

The verdict awards plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili, and Asa'ad Al-Zubae $14 million each. This includes $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages. The case follows a separate trial in May that ended in a hung jury.

The plaintiffs, who include a middle school principal, a journalist, and a fruit vendor, recounted experiences of severe mistreatment such as beatings, sexual abuse, and forced nudity at Abu Ghraib. Although they did not claim CACI's employees directly inflicted the abuse, they argued that CACI was complicit by working with military police to "soften up" detainees.

Supporting evidence included reports from two retired US Army generals, who confirmed that multiple CACI interrogators were involved in the abuse that primarily took place at the end of 2003.

Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, lauded the verdict as "an important measure of justice and accountability." He expressed appreciation for the plaintiffs' perseverance despite numerous legal challenges posed by CACI. The $42 million awarded fully matches the amount sought by the plaintiffs.

Al-Ejaili, who testified in person, emphasized the broader significance of the ruling. "This victory isn't only for the three plaintiffs in this case against a corporation. This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practising different forms of torture and abuse," he stated.

The lawsuit, first filed in 2008, faced numerous delays and attempts by CACI to dismiss it. The trial marked the first occasion in 20 years that a US jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib survivors since the infamous photos of detainee mistreatment surfaced.

Describing their ordeal, Al Shimari recounted being sexually assaulted, beaten, electrically shocked, and dragged by a rope around his neck. Al-Ejaili testified to being forced into stress positions that made him vomit black liquid, sleep deprivation, and being threatened by dogs.

Despite CACI's defense that its employees had limited interaction with the plaintiffs and questioning the validity of their claims, the jury found the company complicit. The plaintiffs' lawyers argued that CACI was responsible for its employees as outlined in their contract with the US Army.

Katherine Gallagher, another attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, welcomed the verdict. "Private military and security contractors are put on notice that they can and will be held accountable when they breach the most fundamental international law protections - like the prohibition against torture," she said.