Convicted warlord Taylor says prosecutors paid witnesses
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor takes notes at the start of the judgement hearing of his trial in April. By Peter Dejong (AFP/POOL/File)
THE HAGUE (AFP) - Convicted Liberian warlord Charles Taylor on Wednesday accused prosecutors of paying and intimidating witnesses as a UN court heard arguments ahead of his sentencing hearing in two weeks.
"Witnesses were paid, coerced and in many cases threatened with prosecution if they did not give statements," the former Liberian president told Sierra Leone's special court in The Hague at a hearing ahead of his sentencing on May 30. Taylor, 64, was found guilty by the UN-backed court last month for aiding and abetting war crimes.