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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SIERRA LEONE: Special Court indicts ninth person

ABIDJAN, 29 May 2003 (IRIN) - The Special Court for Sierra Leone on Thursday indicted Brima "Bazzy" Kamara, a former senior commander of both the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the West Side Boys making him the ninth person to be indicted by the Court.

Announcing the indictment, the Court deputy prosecutor Desmond de Silva, said that the people of Sierra Leone could "rest easier knowing that this man will face the Special Court".

"Wearing a military uniform does not give you permission to direct violations of international humanitarian law. We are holding to account senior members of the AFRC as we continue to move forward expeditiously in executing our mandate," a news release from the Court quoted him as saying.

According to the Court, Kamara was taken into custody two days ago and has been indicted for bearing greatest responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. He will make his initial appearance before the Court next week, it said.

Two others, Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa, have also been provisionally detained under a court rule that allows suspects to be held for up to 30 days before being formally charged, the release noted. Both individuals are affiliated with the former Civil Defence Forces.

To date, the Court has indicted nine individuals: Foday Sankoh, Issa Sessay, Sam Bockarie, Morris Kallon, Augustine Gbao, Johnny Paul Koroma, Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara, and Samuel Hinga Norman. Seven of those individuals are in custody. Bockarie was killed in early May in neighbouring Liberia while Koroma remains at large.

The Court was created through an international agreement between the United Nations and Sierra Leone and is mandated to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for crimes committed during the country's decade-long civil war.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

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