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17.04.2012 Crime & Punishment

Liberian Ex-President Charles Taylor's Judgment Set April 26

By GNA
Liberian Ex-President Charles Taylor's Judgment Set April 26
17.04.2012 LISTEN

Accra, April 17, GNA – The Special Court for Sierra Leone on Tuesday set April 26 to give judgment in the case of Former Liberian President Charles Taylor's role in the brutal conflict of Sierra Leone.

“The judgment will be a major development for victims of horrific crimes committed in Sierra Leone during its armed conflict, which ended in 2002,” a statement issued by the Court in The Hague, has said.

The statement described Mr Taylor as "one whose influence extended throughout West Africa and the first former head of state to face judgment in an international or hybrid international-national court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The Special Court indicted Mr Taylor on March 7, 2003, for crimes – including murder, terrorizing civilians, rape, sexual slavery, and recruiting and using child soldiers - committed during Sierra Leone's armed conflict.

The statement recounted that Taylor after enjoying safe haven in Nigeria, was apprehended in March 2006 and transferred to The Hague for trial by the Special Court.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone was created by an agreement between Sierra Leone and the United Nations to prosecute “those who bear the greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since 30 November 1996”.

Eight individuals associated with the three main warring factions have been tried and convicted by the Special Court in Freetown, and all are serving their sentences in Rwanda.

The Taylor trial, held in The Hague due to concerns raised over stability in the West African sub-region, is expected to be the final trial of the Special Court, which is in the process of winding down its operations.

GNA

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