On the trial of former rebel commander Gibril Massaquoi, 51 who is indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Liberia, between 1999 and 2003, the Finish Court would have to go to Liberia to examine witnesses.
According to Finish State Prosecutor, Tom Laitinen after the first phase of the trial in Finland which will conclude on February 12, the court will travel to Liberia to hear witnesses.
Laitinen explained that this was found to be the most suitable solution, as moving the relatively small court to Liberia was more manageable than moving the extensive number of witnesses from Liberia to Finland. Meanwhile Massaquoi’s defense team denies the charges.
Kaarle Gummerus, his lead lawyer said, “The defense is based on written evidence.” The defense lead iterated their argument that Massaquoi was not present in Liberia during the time of the alleged crimes.
He is accused of committing and commanding the murder and rape of civilians. Among the murder charges is the killing of dozens of civilians and raping of seven women in the village of Kamatahun, Lofa County.
The charges also include several allegations of cannibalism.
Massaquoi is a former high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) but was not prosecuted for his role in Sierra Leone’s civil war, after he was given immunity for his role as an informant of the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone
(SCSL). OG/08/02/2021
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