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Things that make you go "Hmmmmm..."




Marine Charged With Desertion Goes Missing

Wednesday, January 05, 2005


RALEIGH, N.C. — Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, the Marine who was once thought kidnapped in Iraq only to be charged later with desertion, has disappeared, Marine officials announced Wednesday.

Hassoun had been on leave with his family in West Jordan, Utah, when he was scheduled to return to Camp Lejeune on Tuesday, military officials said. Hassoun's family said they do not know his whereabouts and the military is notifying civilian law enforcement of his fugitive status.

Officials listed Hassoun as a deserter Wednesday. He was charged in December with desertion following a five-month probe into his June disappearance from a U.S. military camp in Iraq.

The 24-year-old Utah resident went missing June 20, 2004, from his base in Fallujah. A few days later a videotape of him blindfolded and with a sword hanging over his head aired on Arab television, prompting fears he had been taken hostage by terrorists.

A group claiming to have taken Hassoun said he had been kidnapped after being lured from the base by a love affair.

But in a bizarre twist, Hassoun turned up unharmed on July 8 at the U.S. Embassy in his native Lebanon. It was unclear how he had gotten there.

Hassoun also was charged in December with loss of government property and theft of a military firearm for allegedly leaving the Marine camp while still in possession of his service pistol, as well as theft and wrongful appropriation of a government vehicle.

Hassoun was not in custody or confined to Camp Lejeune; he was working in the brigade motor pool. He was considered to be non-deployable until the charges are resolved.

The desertion count carries a five-year maximum prison sentence and the other counts carry 10-year maximums. If convicted, Hassoun also could be dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit his pay and allowances.

FOX News' Bret Baier, Ian McCaleb and The Associated Press contributed to this report.