Saddam's bomb making nephew jailed for life

A nephew of Saddam Hussein was sentence to life in prison today for funding Iraq’s violent insurgency and bomb-making, the Iraqi government announced, marking the first verdict against a family member of the former Iraqi leader.

Ayman Sabawi, the son of Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, a half brother of Saddam, was captured by Iraqi security forces during a raid on Tikrit – the former leader’s hometown – in May. His father, Al-Hassan, who served as a presidential adviser before the US-led invasion, was captured there two months earlier.

The Iraqi authorities had not announced that Sabawi’s trial was under way.

Tareq Khalaf Mizal, who was arrested with Sabawi, also was convicted for possessing and making roadside bombs. He was given a six-year sentence.

The Iraqi Central Criminal Court in Baghdad said Sabawi would face a second trial – beginning on November 1 – for other, unspecified crimes to which he allegedly confessed during pre-trial interrogation.

In July, the US Treasury froze the US assists of six of al-Hasan’s sons, including those of Sabawi.