Senior officers sentenced over Abu Ghraib prison break

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Central Criminal Court sentenced six high-ranking police officers to five years in jail in connection with the escape of hundreds of inmates last year, according to a statement received by IraqiNews.com.

“The commander of the 4th Division of the federal police and its chief of staff were among those jailed for five years, the Higher Judicial Council,” the statement added.

“A number of security and intelligence personnel from the division received one-year sentences,” the statement continued.

Earlier, ,ilitants carried out well-coordinated assaults last July on Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, and Taji prison, north of the capital, with disastrous consequences.

Officials said more than 500 inmates escaped and over 50 prisoners and members of the security forces were killed in the violence, which was claimed by powerful jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria.