An Army officer who investigated possible abuse at Guantanamo Bay after some guards purportedly bragged about beating detainees found no evidence they mistreated the prisoners -- although he did not interview any of the alleged victims, the U.S. military said Wednesday. Col. Richard Bassett, the chief investigator, recommended no disciplinary action against the Navy guards named by Marine Sgt. Heather Cerveny, who had said that during a conversation in September they described beating detainees as common practice. | "The evidence did not support any of the allegations of mistreatment or harassment" |
Investigators conducted 20 interviews with "suspects and witnesses," the Southern Command said. Bassett did not interview any detainees, said Jose Ruiz, a Miami-based command spokesman. "He talked to all the parties he felt he needed to get information about the allegations that were made," Ruiz said by telephone from Miami.