British Army Officer Testifies to Destroying Laptops Containing Official Documents

A British army intelligence officer testified in high court yesterday that he destroyed laptop computers containing official documents, including photographs of dead Iraqi civilians, by throwing them over the side of cross-Channel ferries. Captain James Rands, head of the regiment's intelligence cell, described the act as a "nothing issue" and claimed it was against the rules to use personal computers for official work purposes. The testimony came as part of a legal challenge by six Iraqis who are seeking an independent public inquiry into allegations that British soldiers may have killed up to 20 captives held after a fierce battle in southern Iraq in 2004.

Key Takeaways:

• Captain James Rands, head of the regiment's intelligence cell, threw two laptop computers containing official documents over the side of cross-Channel ferries in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
• The documents included photographs of dead Iraqi civilians taken by Rands for identification purposes.
• Rands claimed that using personal computers for official work purposes was against the rules and that the act was a "nothing issue".
• The court has heard that soldiers were ordered to bring the bodies of Iraqis killed in the battle back to camp to see if any were involved in the deaths of six British military police officers.
• A senior officer questioned the order, and a number of witness statements had to be corrected.
• Five of the six Iraqis who are challenging the MoD and military police's response to the allegations claim to have been mistreated by British forces after being detained.
• The hearing continues with John Hutton, the defence secretary, opposing the application for a judicial review.

Statistics:

• 20 Iraqis died in the battle, according to the MoD.
• 9 others were captured alive and sent to a detention centre near Basra.
• 6 British military police officers were killed by extremists in a separate incident 6 months prior to the battle.
• Captain Rands threw two laptop computers over the side of cross-Channel ferries in 2006 and 2007.
• The "Danny Boy photos" were described by Captain Rands as "extremely unpleasant".

Sources:

• The Independent, "Army officer 'destroyed evidence of torture by throwing laptops over ferries'", article dated 24 February 2010.
• The Guardian, "British troops may have killed up to 20 Iraqi captives, court hears", article dated 23 February 2010.