US citizen accused of bribes extradited to Iraq

CINCINNATI (AP) — A fugitive accused of bribing U.S. military contracting officials in Iraq has been returned to the U.S. in what government officials say is the first extradition under a 1936 treaty between the two countries.

Metin Atilan pleaded not guilty today to contract and wire fraud in federal court in Dayton. He was extradited Sunday from Iraq.

The 54-year-old is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Turkey and had businesses that did work in Iraq for U.S. military operations.

He was arrested in 2008 in Las Vegas, where he was based, and ordered to appear in an Ohio courtroom after being placed on electronic monitoring. Prosecutors say he then fled to Turkey. He was arrested last year in Iraq.

His attorney didn’t return calls seeking comment.