A Marine who was thought to have been kidnapped and then showed up in Lebanon has now been charged with desertion after a 5 month investigation into his disappearance back in June. The hearing will be the first that could lead to a court-martial in the future. He is also being charged for theft of a weapon and loss of government property.
Fox News
A Marine who was reported abducted in Iraq and later turned up in his native Lebanon was charged Thursday with desertion, the latest twist in a story that included the broadcast last summer of the man's picture, purportedly showing him in captivity.
Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun was charged following a five-month investigation into his June disappearance from a U.S. military camp near Fallujah, Iraq, according to a statement from the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Lejeune.
Hassoun, of West Jordan, Utah, is accused of taking unauthorized leave from the unit where he served as an Arabic interpreter.
Hassoun also is charged with loss of government property and theft of a military firearm for allegedly leaving the Marine camp while still in possession of his 9 mm service pistol, as well as theft and wrongful appropriation of a government vehicle.
Tipped by: The Jawa Report who also has some backstory on Hassoun.
The Spoons Experience has been all over this for awhile. See the entries below.
Sep. 8 - REMEMBER THAT "ABDUCTED" MARINE DESERTER?
Jul. 8 - TOLD YOU SO
Jul. 5 - THIS STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN
Jun. 30 - ABDUCTED MARINE IS DESERTER
Michelle Malkin is on this story as well and also brings us up to date on Hasan Akbar, the soldier who rolled grenades into a tent in Kuwait before the Iraq invasion killing two officers and wounding 14 soldiers.
