Veterans’ minister faces jail for silence over SAS Afghan ‘war crimes’
Johnny Mercer has been warned that if he refuses to reveal the identities of those who told him about
alleged special forces murders
in Afghanistan he could face jail.
The veterans’ minister has refused to reveal the names of multiple officers who told him about allegations of murder and a cover-up during his time
as a backbench MP
, saying: “The one thing you can hold on to is your integrity and I will be doing that with these individuals.”
The chairman of the inquiry into the scandal, Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, has given Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer 10 days to obey the order, previously telling the minister: “You need to decide which side you are really on, Mr Mercer.”
Sir Haddon-Cave accused the minister, who served in the Special Boat Service (SBS) task force in Afghanistan between 2008 and 2009, of having a “misguided understanding of the term integrity and an inappropriate sense of loyalty” by refusing to name names.
The inquiry has served Mr Mercer with Section 21 notice on March 13, compelling him to hand over the names by 5 April,
which it insists will be “treated in confidence”.
The chairman has said the consequences of failing to comply without reasonable excuse would be considered a criminal offence and could result in jail time through contempt of court proceedings.
He told the inquiry last month Mr Mercer’s refusal to reveal the names was “disappointing… surprising… and completely unacceptable”.
