Thursday, April 4, 2013

Virginia Beach Resident Detained in Afghanistan

  • Mila Mimica

  • WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) - A local representative is calling for the release of a Virginia Beach resident who was detained and beaten in Afghanistan Wednesday.

    According to a news release from Rep. Scott Rigell's (R-VA) office, David Gordon is a contractor for Tamerlane Global Services, Inc., a project management firm based in Reston, Va.
    Gordon "sustained several injuries" Wednesday according to Rigell's letter, and is a father of two with another child on the way. Rigell writes Gordon was sent to an infirmary Thursday.

    The letter claims the Afghan Attorney General's office is asking for $2.4 million for Gordon's release, and the incident is related to "ongoing commercial contract dispute."

    Below is a transcript of the letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking for his help in expediting Gordon's release.

    Dear Secretary Kerry,
    An American contractor, Mr. David Gordon, is being illegally detained in Qomandani Amanya, Kabul Afghanistan. We request the Department of State expedite his release from detention.

    Mr. Gordon is a contractor working for Tamerlane Global Services, which is located in northern Virginia. He is a father of two with another child on the way. He was detained April 3, 2013 without any charges levied against him. Additionally, the Deputy Attorney General within the Afghan Attorney General’s office referenced that this was related to an ongoing commercial contract dispute and is asking for US $2.4 million for his release.

    We were deeply concerned to learn that Mr. Gordon was beaten during the night of April 3, sustaining several injuries, and was not sent to the infirmary until April 4, 2013. The threats that he is receiving and the demonstrated lack of protection during his confinement give us serious concern about his welfare.

    We request that the Department of State intervene and expedite the release of this illegally detained American.

    Thank you for your prompt attention on this matter, and we look forward to your response.

    Sincerely,

    Representative Scott Rigell (VA-02)
    Representative Frank Wolf (VA-10)
    Representative Duncan Hunter (CA-50)


    Source:

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