Taylor Witness Bribed
‘’You have been bribed to testify in defence of Charles Taylor’’, Prosecution Lawyer, Nicholas Kumjian told the Defence Gambian Witness testifying under anonymity as he resumed his cross-examination on Friday. The Prosecution Lawyer also said the witness and Mr. Taylor gave contradictory statements about the arrest and detention of West African Nationals by the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia, the NPFL in 1990. The cross-examination of this witness was suspended on March 10. (Photo: Charles Taylor)
The Prosecution indicated to the Judges on Friday that the Defence Gambian Witness was bribed to testify for Mr. Taylor.
The witness has received nearly $11,000 for daily subsistence allowance, DSA, since he arrived in the Netherlands the Prosecution said. Prosecution Lawyer, Nicholas Kumjian also questioned the witness lodging at one of the best hotels in Holland.
But the witness said the DSA and his accommodation at a decent hotel should not be considered as bribery. Following the witness’s response, Defence Lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths objected to the mode of cross-examination by Mr. Kumjian.
“To the best my knowledge all I’m receiving is for my subsistence whilst I’m here in the Netherlands and it’s not money that has been given to me as a bribe.’’ The witness argued.
The Prosecution Lawyer also said the witness contradicted Mr. Taylor’s testimonies about the arrest of nationals of contributing countries to the West African Peacekeeping Force, ECOMOG in 1990.
Mr. Taylor testified on July 20, 2009 that Nigerian nationals were picked up after Nigerian ECOMOG took side in the Liberian conflict by bombing NPFL territory.
But the Defence Gambian Witness said no West African Nationals were arrested by NPFL.
“Now if Taylor is lying you can prove him to be lying but what I’m telling you is the truth and I want you to understand that.’’
Meanwhile the court on Friday granted permission to the Defence Gambian Witness to visit Mr. Taylor at the end of his testimonies. The Prosecution interposed no objection to visit but requested that a representative of the detention facility be present at the meeting of the two men.
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