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US Army's Bowe Bergdahl spared prison time for deserting
US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who faced a possible life sentence after pleading guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy in Afghanistan, has been spared jail time. He will be dishonorably discharged from military ranks instead, the court ruled.
A military judge made the ruling in Bergdahl’s case on Friday. The serviceman was captured by Taliban in Afghanistan back in 2009, when he deserted his post. Bergdahl claimed he did so to report a case of “leadership failure” in his unit.
His disappearance prompted a hasty search-and-rescue operation, which resulted in several US soldiers being injured and a combat dog being killed. Bergdahl spent five years in Taliban captivity until he was exchanged in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap with the militant group.
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