Witness Exposes Special Court Corruption!
A protected witness who testified against Charles Taylor in The Hague accused the Special Court of corruption excesses.
Samuel Kargbo, one time supreme council member of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), and who, prior to his being flown to The Hague, was a protected witness, now has his face and name in VCD cassette allegedly produced by the Special Court.
In an interview with Samuel, he told this press that management of the Special Court included video recording of his and others testimonies into a video cassette now for sale to the public.
“The Special Court promised protecting all of us as witnesses. They asked us to testify as prosecution witnesses, but never told us they will produce a video on us,” angry Samuel said.
It could be recalled that Samuel and others have had understanding with management of Special Court relative to the protection of their lives after completion of testimonies.
It has reached this press that officials of the Special Court accept relocating witnesses to countries outside Sierra Leone.
That Samuel on several occasions had called on the head of WVS, Mr. Salim, asking him to cause his relocation as was agreed, but went fruitless.
Although agreement between the Special Court and witness Samuel was never documented, it was disclosed that a senior officer of the WVS section, Madam Adel, had previously told all the witnesses that they will be relocated to countries of their choice after conclusion of testimonies.
To Samuel’s dismays, a video cassette showing footages of his testimony was put out for sale.
On the back of the cassette were words such as “Special Court for Sierra Leone – Outreach Press & Public Affairs” qualifying that management of the said court has knowledge to such.
The cassette also featured witnesses such as Bobson Sesay, Zigzag Manza (one of Charles Taylor’s commanders), Abu Keita, Father Mario and others.
The video, according to Samuel, is now in public domain and has put their lives in serious threat.
“This is corruption. It is a complete sell out. The Special Court must be investigated for producing and selling a video without the earlier permission of persons featured,” Samuel angrily said.
Sources say the production of such a cassette must have come from the outreach section of the Special Court.
Facts as revealed disclosed how Samuel, on number occasions, had called on the attention of management of the Special Court to crosscheck the source of the already produced cassette, but gets no good feedbacks at all.
More details next edition.
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