Taylor’s bodyguard tells of how arms were transported

As he continues his testimony at the Special Court Varmuya Faih Sheriff, who was a bodyguard to the then President Charles Taylor, has revealed how arms and ammunition were transported by Taylor to Liberia.
Giving evidence in Liberian pidgin, the witness said Charles Taylor used a helicopter to transport loads of arms and ammunition to Liberia which were distributed to the commanders on the ground.
Dressed in an off-white coat and in a relaxed mood, Varmuya Sheriff said Taylor had control over the helicopter which used to fly into Lofa County, Koya, Vongama, and Zozor counties. “And I also used to get my supplies of arms and ammunition from this helicopter. At one time I received 250 bags of AK47 rounds, 50 RPG bombs and other ammunition,” he told the court.
The witness revealed further that, “Taylor gave orders that the actual bags containing the arms should not be exposed as we were under arms embargo. So all commanders would come with a rice bag where their own ammunition would be put and these bags which sometimes had Chinese or Arabic writings on would be burnt later.”
Because some of the roads were not motorable, the witness went on, the chief of staff would go to some communities around and asked the chief how many civilians he had. “The chiefs would be urged to call the civilians who would carry the ammunitions to our distinctions,” the court was told.
About the links between the RUF and NPFL, the witness disclosed that one Benjamin Yeateh who was also a senior member of the NPFL gave instructions to Sam Bockarie to attack Guinea from Freetown and that that attack was carried out.
The RUF, the witness narrated, also went to Liberia to assist Taylor’s militia against the LURDS rebels.
Answering to questions from one of the prosecutors Brenda Holis, the witness said that he recognized some members of both the RUF and Taylor militia like Salami who was one of the RUF rebels that went to Liberia to assist in the fight against the LURDS and that he was later appointed as senior bodyguard.
He added that Eddie Kanneh was in charge of the RUF diamond manager and that he went with diamonds to Liberia.
As the trial reaches its fourth day, the prosecution has so far presented three witnesses.