The first trial of a suspected terrorist by the special military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which involved Osama bin Laden’s former driver ended on Thursday. The suspect got off easy with a sentence of only 5½ years in prison for supporting terrorism.

The United States Government was seeking a sentence of 30 years in prison. However, the sentence given by the special military commission means that Yemen national Salim Ahmed Hamdan could be eligible for release in five months after receiving credit for time served.

Angering prosecutors who made efforts to portray Hamdan as a hardened al-Qaeda warrior, the military jury convicted the suspect of supporting al-Qaeda by driving and guarding bin Laden and ferrying weapons for the group even after finding out that it was a terrorist organization. He was acquitted of terror conspiracy.

The outcome of the trial taken by the first U.S. military commission since World War II raises a lot of questions regarding the administration’s measure to take high-profile terrorism trials out of civilian courts and bring them before the military.

Although Hamdan was a “small player” - even the judge labeled him so – the sentence makes it hard to foresee how the future trials of other major player involved in terrorist acts will end. According to Pentagon spokesman Navy Cmdr. J.D. Gordon, the sentence and verdict "clearly indicate the fairness of the process" and that the Defense Department respects the decisions.

It is unknown what will happen to Hamdan after he finishes serving his time in January. According to the statements of military prosecutors, the acquittal would not change Hamdan’s status as a prisoner. The fact that he was declared an enemy combatant by the military in a separate proceeding and the administration said it can hold such individuals until the war on terror is completed doesn’t shed any light.

The panel of six military officers, who were selected by the Pentagon, rejected the government’s arguments that Hamdan was a terrorist conspirator the day before the sentencing. The sentence was given after Hamdan read an apologetic statement to the victims of the September 11 attacks.

''I don't know what could be given or presented to these innocent people who were killed in the U.S. I personally present my apologies to them if anything what I did have caused them pain,'' Hamdan said.