Taylor’s Cross-Examination Continues

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.  Defense attorneys for Charles Taylor were able to receive a favorable order from the judges for the court. Additionally prosecutors were able to get another admission from Taylor, while also receiving more denials to their allegations.

The judges ordered that the prosecution disclose to the defense all new documents they intend to use in their cross-examination of Charles Taylor. The presiding judge, Justice Richard Lussick said that, “the prosecution’s piecemeal disclosure of individual documents was unacceptable.” The order came in response to the prosecution’s request to use “new evidence” in the form of documents to impeach Taylor’s credibility as a witness in his own defense. The court, in it’s decision, ordered that the documents would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The court further said that all documents which have probative value to the guilt of Taylor must be disclosed to his defense before they could be used by the prosecution for cross-examining Taylor.

In the prosecution’s continuation of their cross-examination of Taylor, they questioned Taylor about the source of the wealth and assets he had accrued during his time in office.  In response to the question, Taylor explained he received contributions of one million dollars from Taiwan, and 500,000 dollars from Libya during 1996-1997, that went toward his presidential campaign. When asked why the Taiwanese government would give him such an amount, Taylor said it was likely for public relations reasons. He said they developed an interest in him out of concern that China would block their interest in Liberia.  When asked to explain Libya’s contribution, he did not have any answer.

Prosecutors followed these questions with inquires about how he currently supports himself financially.  His response was that he has friends, along with other individuals who “help him put food on the table.” He denied the prosecution’s suggestions that he was involved in various forms of business, or that he had bank accounts opened in different places under different names. The prosecution also asked him how he supported himself financially while he was exiled in Nigeria. Taylor explained, “When I left Liberia, I was fully supported by the Nigerian government. Every month, the Nigerian government gave me subsistence.” When the prosecution provided documents from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that discredited Taylor’s claim he received money from Nigeria, he simply dismissed the document. The prosecution’s inquires into Taylor’s finances stem from their belief that the wealth and assets he accumulated during his time as President came from his arrangement with Sierra Leonean rebels that consisted of an exchange of diamonds for arms and ammunitions eventually used to commit atrocities such as rape and murder in Sierra Leone.

For more information please see:

Charles Taylor Trial – Charles Taylor Received Money From Taiwan and Libya For His Presidential Campaign, He says – 1 December 2009

Charles Taylor Trial – Judges Order Prosecutors To Disclose To The Defense All New Documents They Intend To Use In Cross-Examination of Charles Taylor – 3 December 2009

Impunity Watch – Taylor Concedes, But Not Too Much – 1 December 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive