Special Court Indictee Alieu Kondewa has secured the services of Lawyer Melron Nicol-Wilson to represent him as he intends to make a case for early release from his jail in Rwanda.
Allieu Kondewa was arrested on 29 May 2003 and transferred to the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). He was indicted with crimes against humanity and war crimes. On 2 August 2007, the Court convicted Allieu Kondewa on five counts including murder, cruel treatment, pillage, collective punishments and conscripting of child soldiers. Trial Chamber I sentenced Kondewa to 8 years’ imprisonment on 9 October 2007.
In its Appeals Judgement of 28 May 2008, the Appeals Chamber entered new convictions against Kondewa for murder and inhumane acts as crimes against humanity and increased his sentence to 20 years’ imprisonment.
He has served 11years of his 20 years imprisonment and by the Special Court rules he may be eligible for early release prepared he has behaved himself very well while in prison.
This process can only be facilitated by a Lawyer, and that is why he has negotiated with Melron Nicol-Wilson who has agreed to represent him on a ‘Pro Bono’ basis which in other words means for free.
Allieu Kondewa was a leading member and “High Priest” of the Civil Defence Forces (CDF) in Sierra Leone. The CDF was a pro-government paramilitary organisation, which was involved, in an armed conflict against combined forces of the Revolutionary United Front and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (RUF/AFRC) during the country’s civil war from 1991-2002.
Together with Moinina Fofana, Allieu Kondewa was in charge of the strategic and operational decisions of the CDF, receiving orders from Samuel Hinga Norman, their immediate superior.
As High Priest, Kondewa controlled and supervised all initiations of the CDF, including the enrolment and use of children to participate actively in hostilities. Between 1996-1999, the CDF was said to have conducted military actions against the RUF/AFRC, which included attacks against civilians suspected of “collaborating” with the alliance.
The terror campaign consisted of looting, the destruction of private property and physical violence.
Thursday November 19, 2015
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