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Foreign Office used private jet for Cuba trip
Ellen Widdup16 Feb 2009
Four Foreign Office officials were sent to Cuba on a private jet to check on a terror suspect - at taxpayers' expense.
The team spent tens of thousands of pounds, flying business class to Miami, catching an internal flight to Washington and then chartering the private aircraft to visit Guantanamo Bay.
They took the private option despite regular US military flights to the base.
The trip was arranged so that the group could examine alleged bomb plotter Binyam Mohamed before his return to Britain.
The 30-year-old, who had been declared too weak to fly after a hunger strike, was confirmed fit to travel by a doctor, civil servant and two other Foreign Office staff.
The London resident will be returned to the UK within weeks by air ambulance.
Reader views (2)
Where is the government commentator who criticised Prince Charles in respect of his S American flights. As usual, its OK for Govt officals to do this but not us mere mortals. Apart from that Dr Bond has a valid point in respect of cover ups. Do the laws of contempt apply to ministers or are they like the Stasi, exempt from any responsibility moral or legal?
- Alan, Carlisle UK, 16/02/2009 14:49
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For all who are knowledgeable of the horrors at Guantanamo, and the attempts of attorneys to try to see their clients, it is common knowledge that military flights from the mainland are difficult to come by, erratic and may take days. If you are worried about tax payer expense, concentrate on how many tax payers dollars have been spent by your public officials in their attempts to cover up their involvement in Mohamed's torture, including the amount of court time that has been wasted.
- Dr. Trudy Bond, Toledo, U.S., 16/02/2009 13:54
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