BAGHDAD—A British citizen was sentenced Monday by an Iraqi court to 15 years in prison on charges of attempting to smuggle artifacts out of the country, in a case that has attracted international attention.
The verdict handed down to retired geologist Jim Fitton, shocked the court in Baghdad, including his defense attorney. He and his family have argued that Fitton, 66, had no criminal intent.
“I thought the worst case scenario would be one year, with suspension,” Fitton’s lawyer Thair Soud, visibly shocked, told The Associated Press.
A German national tried with Fitton was found not to have had criminal intent in the case and will be released….