The Special Court for Sierra Leone, based in Freetown, has just handed down the sentences of Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Bazzy Kamara, and Santigie Borbor Kanu. Brima, thirty-five years old, and Kanu, forty-two years old, have been sentenced to jail for 50 years. Kamara, thirty-nine years old, has been sentenced to jail for 45 years.
In June, each were found guilty of 11 of the 14 charges against them, including murder, rape, enlisting child soldiers, terrorism, and enslavement.
The men are former leaders of Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) which in 1997 caused a coup d’etat against then President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. The AFRC allied itself with the rebel group the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and embarked on a terror campaign. The rebels are believed to have been backed by Charles Taylor in exchange for Sierra Leone diamonds. The civil war ended in 2001 leaving 120,000 people dead and thousands more mutilated.
During their trial, the men did not cooperate with the prosecution nor did they accept responsibility for their crimes. However defense lawyer Kojo Graham had urged the court to consider reconciliation in sentencing.
It is believed that the men will serve their sentences in Sweden and Austria.
For more information, please see:
AllAfrica – Sierra Leone: Rebel Leaders Found Guilty in First Verdicts From UN-Backed Court – 20 June 2007
Reuters – Sierra Leone War Crimes Court Jails Militia Chiefs – 19 July 2007
VOA – Convicted Coup Plotters Face Sentencing in Sierra Leone – 19 July 2007
IOL News – Prosecution Seeks 170-Year Jail Terms – 16 July 2007
