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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SIERRA LEONE: Further psychiatric evaluation for Sankoh

ABIDJAN, 24 March 2003 (IRIN) - A Special Court judge on Friday called for further psychiatric examinations for Foday Sankoh, leader of the former rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF). He is one of seven people so far indicted by the Court for bearing the greatest responsibility for crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's 10-year war.

After receiving an initial psychiatric report on Sankoh, Judge Benjamin Itoe, sitting at a court in Bonthe south east of the capital Freetown, ordered that copies of the report written by psychiatrist Peter Verkaeed be provided to lawyers of the prosecution and defence, a news release from the Court said on Friday.

The prosecution requested that the judge enter a "not guilty" plea on behalf on Sankoh. Sankoh has not responded verbally since his first Court hearing earlier this month. The judge denied the request deciding instead that all three judges of the trial chambers needed to make a determination. The case was adjourned to date to be fixed by the registrar.

Public hearings were also held for three other indictees - former RUF commanders Alex Brima, Issa Sesay and Morris Kallon who, like Sankoh, each face 17 charges. Their cases were also adjourned, the release said. A fifth indictee, Samuel Hinga Norman has had closed hearings at an undisclosed location, it added. Two others, Johnny Paul Koroma and Sam Bockarie, remain at large.

Meanwhile, the judge also held a hearing for an eighth suspect detained by the Court, Augustine Gbao. His detention came at the request of the prosecutor David Crane.

According to the news release, the prosecutor has 30 days to either lodge an indictment or request that the suspect be held for a further 30 days. If the suspect is not indicted after being detained for 90 days, he or she must be released, according to the Court rules.

Themes: (IRIN) Human Rights

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