One Film, Two Gulf wars, Three Kings

By Jack April 24, 2003 2:34 PM

(AP) Hollywood turned a similar scenario into Three Kings, starring George Clooney after the first Gulf War - now US military detectives are investigating five US troops for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from an Iraqi money cache of more than $900 million, a commanding officer said today.

We three kings be stealing the gold..

US troops have recovered more than $US600 million ($A967.9 million) from hiding places near Saddam Hussein's palace complexes in central Baghdad, said Lieutenant Colonel Philip DeCamp, commander of the 4th Battalion, 64th Infantry Regiment.

But along the way, US troops apparently tried to stash hundreds of thousands of dollars, in $US100 bills, for themselves, DeCamp said.

"We've recovered just about all the money we thought was taken, we're still looking into it," DeCamp said.

US troops stumbled over several aluminum cases filled with $US100 bills in an empty house on Monday and officers estimated the total worth at more than $US500 million ($A806.58 million). When looking into the containers, it became obvious that someone had taken hundreds of thousands of dollars, and officers began looking for that money.

So far, they have recovered approximately $US900,000 ($A1.45 million), a soldier familiar with the investigation said. But it was suspected more was taken.

The US Army Criminal Investigation Division, responsible for investigating serious crimes involving US troops, has opened a case and five soldiers have been questioned, DeCamp said. Among the suspects are a senior noncommissioned officer and an officer, the soldier said, asking not to be identified.

Separately, soldiers yesterday found at least $US100 million ($A161.32 million) more in false walls behind a kennel, he added.

US troops have been searching government buildings and the homes of senior members of Saddam Hussein's regime for evidence related to weapons of mass destruction or government valuables. The US military has promised to protect all of the cash and valuables found for a future Iraqi government.