‘Blood Money’: CIA Contractor Charged with Murder Freed in Pakistan
- Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:31am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Officials say an American CIA contractor detained on suspicion of murder has been released after families of the two Pakistanis he killed pardoned him in exchange for compensation.
Raymond Allen Davis has been in jail since Jan. 27, seriously straining ties between Pakistan and the United States.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah says Davis was charged with murder on Wednesday but was then pardoned by the families of the victims in exchange for compensation payment, or “blood money.” According to MSNBC, Pakistani law allows murder suspects to be set free if they compensate the heirs of their victims.
Chaudhry Mushtaq, superintendent at Kot Lakhpat jail, says Davis had left the jail in the company of U.S. consulate officials.
U.S. officials were not available for comment.
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planeofecliptic
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 7:54pmI am sooo happy this guy is out. Glad to know we have these highly trained Ops people still, (killing two through the windshield of his own car before they could blink!!!) WOW. Hope the CIA dont retire him. My hats off to Mr. Davis and those who trained him, Army Specail Forces, CIA, whoever.
Report Post »ANARCHY--THE KNIFE
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 1:52pmGOVT MISSION-YES
WE COVERED BLOOD MONEY BILL-YES
HE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE – YES
Richard why didnt you use magic pill bud?
Report Post »BTW How’s Brother John?
scorpion1
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 1:32pmHaving worked for the Company, now retired, and worked in the same area where Ray Davis was apprehended I can’t figure out how he was caught. I have read where a backup vehicle was in the area and they must have been slow to react. I also know Pakistani ISI should not have let this happen. I traveled around the NWFP ISI was always close by covering my back. It seems Ray may have been on a unilateral mission here. Glad he is out, however it was accomplished.
Scorpion1
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:24pmI guess the murderers must be pretty wealthy in Pakistan if this is a standling legal policy for them, and oh yea, human life doesn’t mean “Jack” to them either!
Report Post »WTH is up with our government
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 12:02pmIf this is they guy that shot and killed 2 bank robbers….Pakistan should pay this guy an extermination fee for getting rid of them! And give him the money the investigation would have costs them, luxury hotel accommodations, red carpet……key to the city maybe…what backward thinking that is…..
Report Post »taxedenuf
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:18amHMMMMMMM! Just another example of the double standard of our gubmint vs the serfs. When two civillian idiots get into trouble in Iran, they rot in jail because our gubmint refuses to pay blackmailers and kidnappers. But let a gubmint worker get kidnapped over in a war zone, and it’s Uncle $ugar to the rescue. Murder civillians on the southwest border, Ho Hum, another day. Murder a border patrol agent, and it’s battle stations and all hands on deck. Murder a civillian who escapes to a middle east country, well “what can we do” as the gubmint shrugs it’s collective shoulders. But let a CIA agent get murdered in Va., and the perp flees to the middle east, and he is tracked and expropriated back to the U.S. even though the search took years. But hey, equal justice under the law. Just some of us are more equal!
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:05amLater reports are saying the amount of money paid was $2.34M, and I guess the amount is really moot.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:00amRay Allen Davis was and still is well-liked by all who knew and know him. Of course, in his private life the exact nature of his profession is pretty much kept secret, but nonetheless he has always been friendly and helpful to all who came across him. Though friendly and a gentleman, like any other American in Pakistan, Ray had to be on his feet at all times, staying alert and ready for action because of the great anti-American sentiment in that area. There is just no way to tell when you are a target, and when someone points a gun at you it isn’t wise or healthy to wait and see if he is going to pull the trigger. Based on the facts that I know about the incident, I am positive I would have taken the same actions as Ray…perhaps even sooner The Pakistanis and everyone else in that neck of the woods know that the Americans are always good for money, and most of them will take advantage of every opportunity to claim some of it. A friend of mine working within Washington, DC and privy to the details, informed me that the payoff was $250K to each immediate family. Now we all know a loved one cannot be replaced for any amount of money, but that kind of money in Pakistan makes one a wealthy and very powerful person. Our government was willing to do what they needed to do to get the situation done with as soon as possible. The acquaintance also told me that Ray himself did not pay a cent of the (what amounted to extortion) money, but rather the total of $500K was paid by the good old U.S. of America. Obviously, the CIA wanted the story hushed and out of the news–and the sooner the better. I believe it was a small price to pay for the life of Ray Davis. Ray‘s life cleaarly wouldn’t have been worth a nickel if he was sent to a Pakistani prison for any length of time. Our government knew that. Actually, I don’t believe a prison sentence was ever the goal of the Pakistani government or the families involved, but rather that they sought compensation upon the very first news of the men’s deaths.
Report Post »Moocephus
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 10:58amWhen will America realize PAKISTAN IS NOT AN ALLY. Stop sending foreign aide to this back-water, India hating, Taliban stronghold. They should’ve rescued this man by force. What does Pakistan contribute to the world? Poppy seeds and a vacation place for off-duty terrorists? Please stop the madness!
Report Post »psst
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:37amWho said Crime does not pay.?
Report Post »Some criminals work hard at their job (crime) Even in death, they are somehow successful in their criminal undertakings.
ADNIL
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:29amHow much money was paid for his freedom and who paid? Weren’t they trying to rob him and this was self-defence? I guess they robbed him either way. Some justice, but at least he wasn’t stoned or beheaded.
Report Post »RED-DAWN
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:29amHey, Hey, Hey! I expect compensation for my goat. Now, go get my goat back from those Jack-wads or pay me. It’s only fair.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:59amThe man had diplomatic immunity and should not have been held by the Pakistani officials. You can believe that if a Pakistani diplomat had committed a crime here in the United States the most that would happen to him is that he would be expelled from the country. The Pakistanis have violated International law in order to extort money from our government. These people are our allies?
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:15amSo that means Barrys Administration is involved/connected with “EXTORTION” of US taxpayers money.
Report Post »During a Fox news brief on a local station the report said the families of the 2 dead pakistanis was forced by authorities to go down and signed the paperwork for the pardon. Money is the root of all evil and Barrys involved. This sounds like a 2012 debate topic.
Nervous Investor
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:47amYou are correct Rick. It is not right.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:52amGlad the guy is out but, if you think blood money is a muslim thing, remember this case? Browns/Ravens receiver Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to manslaughter while driving under the influence. As part of a plea deal, Stallworth received only 30 days in jail.
Report Post »Stallworth also reached a confidential civil settlement with Reyes’ family.
Mister_Bill
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:42am“From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli.” This is the first line of the Marine Battle cry. It was established because we would not pay tribute to the pirates in the old Ottoman Empire. I guess now we will. We are no longer a Proud and Brave Country when we have to do that. Remember the revolution continues in 2012 – Vote.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:20amSemper fi
Report Post »1Dave
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:43amFace it, another Jimmie Carter Moment.
Report Post »Duddio
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 1:12pmYeah….. wouldn’t paying “blood money” equal an admission of guilt in Pakistan? They got what they wanted, pinned the crimes of these assassines on our CIA guy who was defending himself from attack. I don’t think it was a “robbery” I think it was a hit, and the intended victim came out on top.
They took the money, but even more important, they will use this man’s justifiable act of self-defense to smear the USA even more than they have. I’m glad he is free, sorry that it cost us more of our international sovreignty.
Report Post »workin4alivin
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:37amyou mean obama didn’t agree to sharia law?????
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:36amWho says that capitalism isn’t thriving in the Middle East. They want money just like the rest of us.
Report Post »aLinedog
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:35amOne man‘s ’blood money‘ is another man’s ‘extortion’.
Report Post »-line
grandmaof5
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:41amGlad he got out of there with his life and all his limbs and fingers. Small price to pay, I’m sure.
Report Post »Drippy Fawcett
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:45amAren’t guys in the CIA supposed to kill bad guys in other countries? I WANT the CIA whacking the enemy.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:51amThere is no rule of law in these countries. They are all extortionists and thieves.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
walkwithme1966
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 8:53amLooks like the rich person can get away with anything!!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-KF
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:14amFree to “fight” another day. Extortion yes ..worth it … yes.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:21amLet’s get the blood money from Michael Moore and some of his rich Hollyweired friends.
Report Post »REDPILLREADY
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:24amNo surprise that AP fails to mention the small fact that Davis was being robbed with a gun pointed at him.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 9:31amI‘m wondering why they didn’t let him do this in January when it happened? Of course with Diplomatic Immunity and being self defense it should never have happened anyway. Glad he is out of there. WELCOME HOME MR. DAVIS
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:44pmI hope it was not more than $100. there should be a bounty on terrorist pakis….
Report Post »