Army doctor covered up death of Baha Mousa in Iraq

A former British Army doctor has been found guilty of attempting to cover up the death of an Iraqi civilian who was fatally beaten by British troops in 2003, and of failing to protect other detainees.

Dr Derek Keilloh was a 28-year-old captain and the senior medic in charge of detainees when Baha Mousa, 26, died in British custody in Basra during the occupation of Iraq.

Mr Mousa, a hotel worker, was found to have 93 injuries including a broken rib and nose following his 36-hour ordeal at the hands of soldiers from First Battalion Queen's Lancashire Regiment. These included having a sandbag placed over his head for almost 24 hours and being denied sleep and water. Despite this Dr Keilloh, who had attempted to resuscitate Mr Mousa, said he spotted only dried blood around his nose.

Yesterday, the doctor was found to have been aware of the injuries to Mr Mousa but of failing properly to examine the body. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service also found that, knowing of the dead man's condition, Dr Keilloh then failed to assess other detainees or protect them from further mistreatment or tell officers what was going on. During the tribunal he had been accused of ignoring the cries of detainees who were being tortured by British soldiers.

The MPTS also found Dr Keilloh had engaged in "dishonest" conduct by maintaining at the inquiry, and also a court martial of seven soldiers, that he saw no injuries on Mr Mousa's body. The tribunal will now decide whether his behaviour amounts to misconduct. It has the power to strike him off.