Three Americans and their four local accomplices who were being held on charge of running a private jail in Kabul appeared in court in Kabul on Wednesday.

It was the second time in less than a week that the court summoned them for hearing.

The team headed by Jonathan Keith Idema was detained on July 5 during a government freelance search operation from a house where eight civilians were held illegally.

"Weapons, military uniforms, cameras, wireless and tape recorders have been recovered from their private prison," prosecutor Mohammad Naeem Dawari said in the district court.

Idema and his team were running their unlawful business under the fake name of Universal Export to create confusion between Afghans and international community, he said.

These people were arresting innocent citizens including drivers and shopkeepers on charge of supporting Taliban and involvement in terrorist activities.

Idema and his men entered Afghanistan via India illegally with Indian passports on April 14 and begun their illegal activities in the violation of Afghan laws.

They will face up to 20 years of imprisonment if the crimes were convicted.

"These people abducted me from my shop in Kabul and used to beat me every day to extract information about Taliban and al-Qaeda while I am just a simple shopkeeper," Ghulam Sakhi who was released from their custody told the court.

The US military has already distanced itself from the gang, saying it has no link with American agencies serving in Afghanistan while Chris Henderson, spokesman of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the accused wearing US military uniform in running their business.

Due to Idema's request of hiring more lawyers, the judge permitted a 15-day delay until next proceeding. Idema and his team were escorted into the Afghan police cars outside the court, handcuffed, after the hearing ended at noon.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2004)