Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, on trial in The Hague for war crimes committed during Sierra Leone’s civil war, will serve his sentence in Britain if convicted. Britain’s government signed a sentence enforcement agreement with the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone this week.
Taylor’s trail opened last month, and he has plead not guilty to all eleven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Sierra Leone’s civil war that killed an estimated 50,000 people. He is accused of instigating murder, mutilation, and the recruitment of child soldiers while backing Sierra Leone’s rebels in exchange for diamonds. After an initial boycott of his trial, Taylor made a surprise appearance earlier this month. He has argued that he had inadequate funds to provide a defense, despite many suspicions that he his hiding a fortune somewhere. Judges ordered that Taylor be assigned a new defense team, increased the amount of money available for his legal defenses, and postponed the trial until August 20.
Meanwhile, Liberia’s government has started to make moves to seize Taylor’s assets. A bill that covers the property of Taylor’s relatives and associates has been passed to Liberia’s parliament for discussion. The Liberian government is seeking power “to seek the assistance of other nations in tracking, freezing, confiscating the funds, properties and assets” of the ex-president and others concerned. All of his assets held abroad have already been seized through a 2004 UN Order. Taylor, who has claimed he is indigent, will be receiving $100,000 a month for his legal defense by the Special Court.
For more information, please see:
Reuters – Liberia’s Taylor to be Jailed in UK if Convicted – 13 July 2007
Daily Mail – Former Liberian President Will be Jailed in UK if Convicted of War Crimes – 13 July 2007
BBC – Liberia ‘to Seize Taylor Assets’ – 12 July 2007
Jurist – Liberia Moves to Seize Taylor Assets – 13 July 2007
