UK pays compensation for drowned Iraqi teenager
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, July 22, IRNA -- Britain's Ministry of Defence has agreed in an out-of-court settlement to pay £100,000 compensation to the family of Iraqi teenager Saeed Shabram, who drowned near Basra after being detained by British troops in 2003, but without admitting liability for the death.
An undisclosed amount of compensation is also being paid to Menem Akaili, cousin of the drowned 18-year old, who claims he was forced into a river by soldiers at the same time.
Solicitors Leigh Day & Co, who are acting in around 300 cases of inhuman treatment, torture and even executions of Iraqi citizens by British soldiers during the war, said the incident has left a “big impact” on family lives.
'Obviously no amount of money can ever hope to make up for the loss of a child or brother, but I hope this compensation will go some way towards helping their lives,' said Keren Adams, from the law firm.
The death has been linked with a so-called policy of “wetting” to deal with suspected looters around the time of the incident, but this has been denied by the MoD and none of the four soldiers allegedly involved have been charged.
'When compensation claims are received by the Ministry of Defence they are considered on the basis of whether or not there is a legal liability to pay compensation. In this case we came to an amicable settlement and our sympathies remain with Mr. Shabram's family,' a spokesman said.
The biggest compensation payment made so far by the UK over the Iraq war was reportedly £2.83m to the family of Basra hotel worker Baha Mousa who died in custody in September 2003 after suffering 93 separate injuries.
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