Cheney, Gonzales charged in Texas for abuse of prisoners

WASHINGTON: American vice-president Dick Cheney and former attorney general Alberto Gonzales have been indicted on separate charges associated to
alleged prisoner abuse in federal detention centers.

A South Texas grand jury has indicted Cheney and Gonzales on charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in Willacy County's federal detention centres.

The indictment accuses Cheney of a conflict of interest and "at least misdemeanour assaults" on detainees by working through prison companies, FOX News reported.

The indictment roots from Cheney's investment in the Vanguard Group — an investment management company that reportedly has interests in the prison companies in charge of the detention centres, an international news agency has reported.

It also charges Gonzales halted an investigation into abuse at the detention centres while he was attorney general. Democratic state Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. also is charged in the indictment.

Meanwhile, Cheney's office has said that it has not received an indictment yet. Gonzales is accused of using his position while in office to stop an investigation into abuses at the federal detention centres. Another indictment charges state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. with profiting from his public office by accepting honoraria from prison management companies.