Special Court for Sierra Leone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War. The court is located in Freetown.
| Sierra Leone Civil War |
 |
| Personalities |
|
Charles Taylor - Foday Sankoh |
| Armed Forces |
|
RUF - SLA - West Side Boys |
| Attempts at Peace |
|
Lomé Peace Accord - Abidjan Peace Accord |
| Political Groups |
| Tribes |
| See also |
| edit |
Contents |
[edit] Origin
On 12 June 2000, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan asking the international community to try those responsible for crimes during the conflict. On 14 August 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1315 requesting the Secretary-General to start negotiations with the Sierra Leonean government to create a Special Court.
On 16 January 2002, the UN and Government of Sierra Leone signed an agreement establishing the Court. The first staff members arrived in Freetown in July 2002.
[edit] Structure
The Special Court consists of four separate institutions: the Registry, the Prosecutor, the Judges and the Defense Office. The Registry is responsible for the overall management of the Court. Registrar Robin Vincent was appointed by the UN Secretary-General.
Chief Prosecutor Desmond de Silva was also appointed by the UNSG. The Prosecutor and his team investigates crimes, gathers evidence and submits indictments to the judges. The defence lawyers defend the accused against the charges of the Prosecutor. The Principal Defender is Vincent Nmehielle.
The judges determine the innocence or guilt of the accused. There are currently eleven judges, of which six are Trial Judges (4 UN appointed and two nominated by the Sierra Leone government). The remaining five are Appeals Judges, three of which were appointed by the UN and two nominated by the Sierra Leone. Judges are appointed for a term of three years.
The Appeals Chamber judges are:
- George Gelaga King (Sierra Leone, President)
- Emmanuel Ayoola (Nigeria, Vice President)
- A. Raja N. Fernando (Sri Lanka)
- Renate Winter (Austria)
- Geoffrey Robertson, QC (United Kingdom)
[edit] Trial Chamber I
[edit] Trial Chamber II
[edit] Indictees
Eleven people have been indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law by the Court: Charles Taylor, Johnny Paul Koroma, Issa Sesay, Alex Tamba Brima, Morris Kallon, Moinina Fofana, Augustine Gbao, Samuel Hinga Norman, Allieu Kondewa, Brima Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu. Indictments against Foday Sankoh and Sam Bockarie were dropped after their deaths. Of the eleven, ten of the indictees are in the custody of the Special Court. Only the disposition of Johnny Paul Koroma remains uncertain. He was widely reported to have been killed in June 2003 but, as definitive evidence of his death was never provided, his indictment has not been dropped.
Although individually charged, the trials have been placed into three groups. The Revolutionary United Front trial for Kallon, Gbao and Sesay began on 5 July 2004. The Civil Defence Forces trial for Norman, Fofana and Kondewa started on 3 June 2004. The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council trial began on March 2005.
If found guilty, criminals may be sentenced to prison or have their property confiscated. The Court does not have the power to impose the death penalty.
[edit] External links
- Official site for the Special Court
- Justice in Motion: The Trial Phase of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch, November 2005
