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The Prosecution of the Special Court said Mr. Charles Taylor had hidden motive for keeping Former Sierra Leone Rebel Leader, Sam Bockarie and hundreds of his fighters in Monrovia.  Charles Taylor in The Hague
But Mr. Taylor said Bockarie was not a threat to the Security of Sierra Leone. The Prosecution, in its cross-examination of the Former Liberian Leader Tuesday disclosed that Mr. Taylor as President of Liberia spent millions of dollars on international Public Relations firms to clean up the bad image of his government. Mr. Taylor admitted and said the millions spent was inadequate. John Kollie transcribes reports from The Hague for the BBC World Service Trust… Prosecution Lawyer, Brenda Hollis said Mr. Taylor refused to surrender the Sierra Leone Rebel Leader after several appeals from the Sierra Leone Government. Miss Hollis told the court Mr. Taylor kept the Sierra Leone Rebels in Monrovia for reasons other than peace in that West African Country. The Former Liberian President said he refused to repatriate Bockarie to Sierra Leone because the Former Rebel Leader posed no danger to the peace of that country in 1999. Several Leaders of the Revolutionary United Front which Sam Bockarie headed were tried and convicted for amputating and murdering thousands of civilians during the Sierra Leone decade long civil war. The Prosecution also disclosed to the court on Tuesday that Mr. Taylor spent more than one million dollars from the national coffer of impoverished Liberia to fight the bad image of his government in the international Community. The Prosecution told the court Mr. Taylor hired the services of Former U.S Secretary of State for African Affairs, Herman Cohen, and several public relations firms to improve his image.The Former Liberian Leader admitted spending this amount and further said the amount spent by him was insignificant. Mean while, the Special Court in The Hague has announced that there would be no sitting on Wednesday for Mr. Taylor’s trial. Court room number two where Mr. Taylor is being tried would be used for other trials. The war crimes trial of Mr. Taylor resumes on Thursday. |
