Multi-National Corps – Iraq announced April 5 that a civilian contractor, who is accompanying the force, has been charged with aggravated assault under military law.

Alaa “Alex” Mohammad Ali is the first contractor to be charged under a 2006 amendment to the Uniform Code of Military Justice – Section 552 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2007 (October 17, 2006).

He is accused of stabbing another contractor. He is presumed to be innocent of this offense until, and unless, he is proven guilty.

A pre-trial hearing under Article 32, UCMJ has been scheduled for April 10, 2008. This hearing is like a civilian preliminary hearing and analogous to a grand jury. At the hearing, a senior Army officer will hear evidence and make findings and recommendations about the charge. His report will be forwarded to Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the commanding general of Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

Mr. Ali has been in confinement at Camp Victory since Feb. 29, 2008.

Mr. Ali will be afforded all the same rights, protections and privileges servicemembers receive in military court, including the right to counsel, right to speedy trial, protection against self-incrimination and presumption of innocence.
MNF-I