The detainee has been sent to his native Saudi Arabia
The Pentagon says a prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention center has been sent to his native Saudi Arabia to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
Ahmed al-Darbi is the first prisoner to leave the U. S. base in Cuba since President Donald Trump took office. The last announced detainee transfer from Guantanamo was over a year ago, in Jan. 19, the day before Mr. Trump was inaugurated.
Al-Darbi is returning to Saudi Arabia as part of plea deal.
He pleaded guilty before a military commission in 2014 to charges stemming from an attack on a French oil tanker and he has about nine years left to serve. He has waived his right to appeal.
The U. S. agreed to send him to a Saudi rehabilitation program in exchange for what prosecutors say was « invaluable » testimony against other prisoners held at Guantanamo.
The Pentagon announced his transfer Wednesday. There are now 40 men still held at Guantanamo.
CBS News’ David Martin contributed to this report.
