By Octavio Abea
The U.S. military paid $50,000 for each death and $11,000 for each injured to families of the victims of a soldier's killing spree that took place in the southern Afghanistan village, a tribal chief said Sunday.
The tribal chief told the Hindustan Times that the money, which added up to over $900,000, was given to them in a private ceremony inside the Kandahar Provincial Governor's office.
Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is facing charges including 17 counts of premeditated murder, of mostly women and children, and could receive the death penalty if convicted, CTV News Ottawa reports.
Afghan officials, who have asked to remain anonymous, have confirmed the payments, but say the amounts were roughly $46,000 for each death instead of $50,000, the Hindustan Times reports.
Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for NATO and U.S. forces, said that compensation is usually given in these situations and the amounts are usually kept private, CTV News Ottawa reports.
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