By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

THE HAGUE, Netherlands-Last week saw more developments in the trial of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor.  The Sierra Leone Special Court Judges allowed the use of new documents by prosecutors to use in their cross examination of Taylor. The judge however said that any documents used to try and show Taylor’s guilt would need to be handed over to Taylor’s defense team in advance. The prosecution agreed to the court order to disclose all documents they intend to use to avoid further “misunderstandings”.

During the course of the prosecution’s cross-examination of Taylor, it has sought to use new evidence to impeach his credibility as a witness in his own defense. Taylor’s defense attorney has called the prosecution’s strategy a “trial by ambush”.  The presiding judge Justice Richard Lussic made the following orders in response to the dispute over the prosecution’s cross-examination of Taylor. The judge ordered that all documents be disclosed to the defense 24 hours prior to its use in court for cross-examination.

Last week also saw Taylor admit to having a “covert” account operated on behalf of the Liberian government, holding millions of dollars.  Prosecutors allege that this account was a personal accunt used to hide away money for Taylor from activities including trading of arms in exchange for Sierra Leone’s diamonds.

Upon Taylor’s admission to having the covert account, the prosecutor read portions of taylor’s pat statements in which he challenged anyone to bring evidence of any secret account that he was alleged to have operated.  The statement read, “I challenge any human being on this planet to bring one bank account that I have money there. If anyone on this planet knows of any asset or bank account anywhere, I authorize you to come forward. There are no bank accounts in the world that I have. If anone can bring any evidence that Charles Taylor has money in a bank account, then Charles Taylor is a liar.”

The prosecutor followed the statement with a reading of a document that indicated the opening of a new bank account signed by Charles Taylor. Taylor’s acknowledgement of this account strengthened the prosecutions efforts to discredit Taylor.

For more information please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – Personal Bank Account In Charles Taylor’s Name was A “Covert Account Operated on Behalf of The Government of Liberia, He Says – 7 December 2009

Charles Taylor Trial – As Judges Order Prosecution To Disclose To Defense All New Documents They Intend to Use In The Cross-Examination – 5 December 2009

Impunity Watch – Taylors Cross-Examination Continues – 8 December 2009