Private US contractor accused of prisoner abuse

A contractor working for the Central Intelligence Agency has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from the abuse of a prisoner in Afghanistan.

He is the first civilian to face criminal charges in the case, officials said .

The indictment was returned by a grand jury in North Carolina. Officials named the defendant as David Passaro and said the case involved the death of a prisoner in US custody.

The case was among three referred by the CIA inspector general to the Justice Department for prosecution.