Embassy: Va. contractor released in Afghanistan
Apr 5, 2013, 6:02 PM
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) – A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul says a Virginia contractor has been released, a day after three congressmen said the man was illegally detained and beaten in Afghanistan.
John Rhatigan (RAT’-ih-gihn) says David Gordon of Virginia Beach was let go Friday by the Afghan government.
U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell and Frank Wolf of Virginia and Duncan Hunter of California sent a letter Thursday asking Secretary of State John Kerry to intervene.
According to the congressmen, Gordon was detained Wednesday without any charges against him. They say he was injured in a beating but was not taken to an infirmary until the next day. The officials say Gordon’s detention stems from a contract dispute, and Afghan authorities were asking for $2.4 million for his release. Rhatigan said nothing about the money demand.
Gordon works for northern Virginia’s Tamerlane Global Services Inc.
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