Former US soldier kidnapped by Taliban faces court martial

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Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : Dec 15 2015 | 10:13 AM IST
A former US soldier, who was freed in a controversial prisoner swap with the Afghan Taliban, will face a court-martial on charges of dissertation and could face life in prison if convicted.
Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 29, will face general court- martial in connection with his 2009 disappearance from his base in Afghanistan, According to US Army.
He was captured by the Taliban after disappearing from the base.
The Obama administration arranged a prisoner swap last year to release Bergdahl from captivity, approving an exchange of five Taliban officials being held at Guantanamo Bay in return
The White House refused to speak on the issue.
"There's an established process whereby the military will both conduct this investigation and consider the results of it, and I don't want to say anything that could be perceived as influencing that process in any way," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
General court-martial is the highest level of trial in the military justice system. If convicted, Bergdahl could face life in prison. Desertion can carry a death penalty, but Army officials have said that will not occur in Bergdahl's case.

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First Published: Dec 15 2015 | 10:13 AM IST

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