Hearing set for US Marine accused of desertion; claimed extremists kidnapped him in Iraq
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Military officials have scheduled a hearing this week for a Marine accused of faking his own kidnapping in Iraq as well as failing to return to his base after visiting relatives in Utah.
A statement from Camp Lejeune on Tuesday said the hearing for Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun is scheduled for Thursday. A Marine Corps spokesman says the results of the hearing will determine what action will be taken.
Hassoun disappeared twice from the military — first in June 2004 in a purported kidnapping by Islamic extremists, and in January 2005 when he failed to return to Camp Lejeune.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Hassoun turned himself in to military authorities in June and is in custody pending an investigation and decisions on the charges against him.