Contempt… Special Court indicts ‘Bomblast,’ 4 others
Five persons have been served with “orders in lieu of an indictment” charging them with contempt of court under Rule 77(A) of the Rules.
They are alleged to have interfered with Prosecution witnesses who testified in two separate trials before the Special Court.
Charged with Kamara and Kanu, Hassan Papa Bangura aka Bomblast” and Samuel Kargbo also known as “Sammy Ragga,” have been slammed with two counts of attempting to bribe a witness to withdraw his previous testimony.
The two convicted former leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu also known as “Five-Five” were served their indictments at Rwanda’s Mpanga Prison, where they now serve lengthy sentences for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Kamara faces an additional count of disclosing the name of a protected witness “in knowing violation of an order of a trial Chamber.”
In a separate order, the Trial Chamber charged Eric Senessie on nine counts of attempting to induce Prosecution witnesses in the Taylor trial to withdraw testimony they gave before the Court.
No arrest warrants have been issued. All of the accused have sought guidance from the Special Court’s Defence Office on obtaining counsel.
The “orders in lieu of an indictment” followed separate independent investigations ordered in March 2011 by the Trial Chamber to determine whether allegations raised by the Prosecution provided sufficient grounds to instigate contempt proceedings.
The orders direct that the Accused be prosecuted by independent counsel. Both cases will be heard by Trial Chamber II Presiding by Judge Teresa Doherty.
Reflection must be drawn to a previously charged private investigator by the trial Chamber I of Special Court, in which stooges ‘security officers’ surrendered lolling testimonies that woefully discredit the accused.
Public’s assessment of another Special Court slamming of contempt charges against Sierra Leoneans question the court’s legal mandates to doing so.
According to clauses in the court’s statute, it is stated that person (s) found wanting of contempt can be tried summarily, or by the Sierra Leone Court, or the Special Court.
Disheartening though is the fact that management of Special Court has neither transferred to the Sierra Leone Court, persons found culpable of contempt nor conduct a summary trial on them.
If convicted, the accused could face prison sentences of up to seven years, fines of up to two million leones (approximately $500), or both.
The date and venue for the hearings has not yet been announced.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2011, https:. All rights reserved.
