WASHINGTON, 12 October 2003 — A former Muslim chaplain at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects has been charged with disobeying orders for improperly handling classified information, the military announced.
Army Capt. James Yee, who also has used the name Yousef Yee, was charged with two counts of failing to obey a lawful order, US Southern Command said Friday. He is charged with taking classified information home and wrongly transporting classified information. The charges, as outlined on an Army document released by Southern Command, say Yee was carrying classified information when he was arrested last month and had taken secret materials to a housing unit while serving as chaplain at the base from November 2002 until last month.
Yee is one of three former workers at the high-security military base to be arrested in a probe of alleged espionage there. Yee is not charged with espionage.
Conviction of disobeying orders carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a bad conduct discharge.
Authorities arrested Yee Sept. 10 as he arrived at a Jacksonville, Fla., naval base on a flight from the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba. He is being held at the Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.
“The Army continues to investigate Yee’s conduct, and if warranted, additional charges could be forthcoming,” Southern Command said in a statement.
Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the commander of the Guantanamo Bay prison, will decide on the next step. Miller’s options include dismissing the charges or convening a special court-martial.
