By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal jury on Tuesday found U.S. defense contractor CACI International liable for its role in torture at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad during the Iraq war and ordered it to pay $42 million in damages.
The jury’s verdict found the Virginia-based company liable in the torture of Iraqi men at the prison in 2003-2004 and ordered it to pay each of the three plaintiffs $14 million in damages, the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the plaintiffs, said in a statement.
Tuesday’s verdict marked the first time a civilian contractor was held legally responsible for the torture at the prison.
The torture of prisoners held by U.S. forces during the Iraq war at the facility became a scandal during former President George W. Bush’s administration after pictures of the abuse emerged in 2004.
The photos showed U.S. troops smiling, laughing and giving thumbs up as prisoners were forced into humiliating positions including a naked human pyramid and simulated sex. Detainees said they endured physical and sexual abuse, infliction of electric shocks and mock executions.
CACI denies its employees engaged in torture and said it will…
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