Release A051206l

Saddam Hussein nephew receives long prison sentence

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Dec. 5, a Baghdad court found Aymen Sabawi, Saddam Hussein’s nephew - a former regime insider and once-active terrorist supporter - guilty of illegally crossing the Syrian border without authorization from Iraqi customs.

He received a lengthy sentence in addition to a six-year sentence he received during his September trial when he was found guilty of possession of illegal weapons and manufacture of explosive devices.

It was during his September trial that Sabawi, while testifying, submitted self-incriminating information when he spoke of the illegal border crossing.

Yesterday’s court handed down a 15 year sentence. Combined with the first trial, Sabawi will not be released from the Iraqi prison for more than twenty years.

Aymen Sabawi was apprehended last May by Iraqi and Coalition Forces near Tikrit. Aymen Sabawi’s father, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan al-Tikrit, is the half brother of Saddam Hussein. He was apprehended in late February and remains in custody awaiting trial.

Aymen Sabawi and members of his family played a particularly active role in sustaining the terrorism by providing financial support, weapons and explosives and frequently used neighboring Arab countries as safe havens to plan and launch terrorist attacks.

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 specifically indicted the Sabawi family for stealing millions of dollars from the Iraqi people during Saddam Hussein’s regime. Officials believe the Sabawi family used these stolen financial assets to fund terrorism and anti-Coalition activities.

Ayman Sabawi’s convictions spotlight the Iraqi government’s fight against terrorists as Sabawi was among the highest ranking members from the former regime to be brought to trial and successfully convicted.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER at: cpicpressdesk@iraq.centcom.mil.