Report U.S. soldier rapped for Koran abuse at lockup

By James Gordon Meek

DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Troops monitor detainees at Guantanamo prison in January 2002. Detention camp is at center of explosive allegations about jailers disrespecting Koran.

WASHINGTON - It wasn't tossed in a toilet, but disrespecting an inmate's Koran got at least one American soldier reprimanded at the Guantanamo prison for terrorists, the Daily News has learned.

A record of the 2003 punishment was discovered by Army Brig. Gen. John Furlow while probing Gitmo misconduct alleged in FBI memos. But it wasn't included in the final report given to the U.S. Southern Command, according to a military official familiar with the investigation.

The omission in the final report written by Lt. Gen. Randall Schmidt, who took over from Furlow, was because officers concluded the incident was isolated and new rules prevented further abuses, the official said.