Private jail vigilantes deny torture charges

Amir Shah, Kabul

Group leader Jonathan Idema accused authorities of withholding documents which he said proved his contacts with the Defence Department, CIA and FBI.

Idema, Brent Bennett and Edward Caraballo were arrested when Afghan security forces raided the makeshift jail in Kabul on July 5. They face charges including hostage-taking and “mental and physical torture”. They face up to 20 years in Afghan jails.