An Angus Royal Marine at the centre of allegations that a recruit was forced to eat human excrement and drink urine will not be court martialled and has not been deployed to Afghanistan.
The Royal Navy has confirmed a case against one suspect will be dealt with by the commanding officer at RM Condor near Arbroath, following an alleged assault by fellow marines at the base last year.
A probe into the claims was launched by the Ministry of Defence, after a 20-year-old man walked into Arbroath Police Station to report an attack.
A Royal Navy spokeswoman said, “We can confirm the Royal Navy Police Special Investigations Branch (RNP SIB) reported their investigation to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) in February 2011.
“The SPA has since referred a case against one suspect to be dealt with by their commanding officer.”
The MoD confirmed the marine facing the allegations had not been deployed in Helmand alongside his colleagues and was not due to leave the country.
Following a report made to Tayside Police on June 23, the MoD confirmed an investigation would be held into a claim of physical abuse in relation to a young marine at the base.
The man claimed he was seriously assaulted by colleagues while at the home of 45 Commando and was beaten about the body with footwear by others, who had concealed their identities.
At the time, a Courier source said the attackers wore masks and the victim was left badly bruised.
It is understood the alleged assault may have been some form of “initiation ceremony.”
Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee promised tough action on any unacceptable behaviour by any member of his unit, anywhere in the world.
He said, “I have an absolute zero-tolerance policy to indiscipline or unacceptable behaviour in 45 Commando. My policy here is crystal clear and common decency is one of the cornerstones of our values within the Royal Marines.”
He added, “Indiscipline or unacceptable or inappropriate behaviour is wholly at odds with the service and simply cannot be tolerated.”
Troops from 45 Commando were sent to Nad-e-Ali in March and will be stationed there until at least September, as part of a 9500-strong UK section of NATO forces.
Around 600 personnel from Angus are based in the area, some of whom have not had any warzone experience.
It is the fourth time the commando unit has been deployed in the country, with the objective of helping to provide security in support of the Afghan government.