Guantanamo Bay detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi has been sentenced to 13 years in confinement for terrorism charges, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Al-Darbi was found guilty of conspiracy, attacking civilian objects, hazarding a vessel, terrorism, attempts, and aiding the enemy.
Al-Darbi pled guilty to the charged offenses that resulted from an attempted terrorist attack against shipping vessels off the coast of Yemen and for a successful terrorist attack involving a French oil tanker in February 2014. He agreed to delay his sentence proceeding in the plea so he could comply with the government.
He has complied with the government and his pre-trial agreement said he must testify for the U.S. against individuals involved with terrorist activity and must continue to comply. The Convening Authority for Military Commissions agreed to limit the amount of confinement due to the guilty plea and his pledge to comply. However, this agreement could be nullified if he does not fulfill his end of the bargain.
Al-Darbi’s sentence may be reduced, but not increased, should he submit matters in clemency. The Convening Authority will review the record of the trial and proceed with action based on the findings and the sentence.
Al-Darbi is a Saudi Arabian citizen and according to a Department of Defense memorandum, was a mid-to-high-level al Qaeda operative. It was determined he posed a high risk to the U.S. and its interests and allies.
He was arrested in 2002 in Azerbaijan when customs officials stopped him and found $150 of counterfeit U.S. dollars in his possession. He has been held at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years.
