On Monday 20^th October, Prosecutor Christopher Santora called the 65^th prosecution witness, Edna Bangura who testified in Krio. Edna was born on 10^th October 1984 at Masingbi in the Tonkolili district. She testified that at the age of 10, she was abducted by RUF fighters during a sport meeting at Masingbi in 1994 and was placed in a cellar where she was raped by three masked rebels and was left helpless. She stated that one C.O Blood later asked her together with other civilians to carry loads and they left for Buedu where Issa Sesay instructed that they should be trained. She noted that one Monica Pearson was in charge of the training at Buedu which lasted for two weeks. The witness noted that they were placed in a group known as “Small Girls Unit” comprising of girls between the ages of 8 to 13. She also testified that she was assigned to C.O Scorpion’s wife as a personal assistant and later she was engaged on “food finding mission”. The witness also noted that there was another unit called Small Boys Unit “SBU” which performed the role of securities.

The witness further noted that she was raped by a rebel called C.O Ray and got pregnant but however lost the baby. She also noted that she was later taken as a wife by Ray and later gave birth to another child. Asked why women were taken as wife, the witness stated that wives were guaranteed protection. She also explained how rebels captured civilians from neighbouring towns and villages and trained children as child combatant and used adults to work on farms. She also stated that proceeds from the farms were given to Issa Sesay. She recalled that Mosquito, Augustin Gbao, Morris Kallon and Superman were at Buedu. The witness also testified about weapons being transported from Liberia.                 

Asked how she left Buedu, the witness testified that SAJ Musa sent a radio message in 1998 requesting Issa Sesay to provide “back up” to attack Freetown . Issa instructed Scorpion to join Musa and Scorpion’s wife, Hawa together with the witness left for Tongo and later they arrived at Kono where the witness stayed for a month before leaving for Makeni where she stayed until disarmament. Edna concluded her direct evidence by noting that her experience with the RUF affected her greatly as she was captured when she was very young and forced to have sex with rebels. She stated that because of her ordeal, she is finding it difficult to settle down with a man.

During cross-examination, Courtney Griffiths attempted to establish that the witness was deprived of her childhood as she was abducted when she was 10 years old. Counsel reiterated that the witness was taken from a sport ground and raped and was later taken to Buedu where she underwent military training and was later attached as guard to Scorpion’s wife Hawa. Counsel further stated that the witness did not participate in active combat and that arms and ammunition were sometimes acquired by attacking the civil militia the Kamajors or Sierra Leone Army. The witness testified that she did not see Mosquito during her stay at Buedu but saw Kallon and Gbao as they were Scorpion’s friends. She also noted that during their trip to Kono people were engaged in mining. When asked about her previous statement made to investigators and whether they were read back, the witness noted that she met with the investigators in Port Loko and after their interview, her statement were not read back but corrections were later made in Freetown when interviewed again.  In establishing inconsistencies, Counsel presented written statement taken by OTP investigators in 2003 which suggests that the witness had earlier stated that she was raped by four rebels, and asked why the witness had testify in court that she was raped by three rebels. Counsel further noted other inconsistencies between the witness’s prior statement and oral evidence. Mr. Santora conducted a brief Re-examination and some documents were admitted into evidence.

On Tuesday, Griffiths tendered a document as defence exhibit D70 and also noted that the Taylor trial is lacking the presence of all four judges in recent times. He submitted that the trial should be prioritized. The judges conferred and noted that they will take up the matter with the President of the Court. Prosecutor Nicholas Koumjian called the 66^th prosecution witness TF1-158, an ex-child combatant and a category B witness according to the court’s decision of July 2004, noting that the witness is entitled to protective measures including pseudonym, voice and facial distortion. Defence counsel Terry Munyard however objected to some of the measures and noted that the court’s decision of July 2004 was to protect children and the witness is no longer a child. The Court was adjourned for 10 minutes to allow the prosecution and defence to reach a workable method to protect the witness. After the break Koumjian informed the court that both parties have agreed that the witness can testify with a pseudonym.

Court went to private session to get the names of the witness. Back in open session, the witness stated that he was born in Bonoya in the Bombali district and can speak Madingo, Limba and krio. The witness testified that he lived with his father, aunt, younger brothers and sister. He noted that rebels attacked Bonoya town and threatened to kill all the people of the Madingo tribe because they had voted for former President Tejan Kabbah. He further noted that a rebel called “Adama cut-hand” killed his father. Describing other atrocities, the witness noted that after the rebels placed a bet on whether it was a boy or girl; they slit open the stomach of a pregnant woman and removed the fetus. He also stated that the rebels spoke Mende, Krio and some had Liberian accent.

TF1-158 further testified that he was abducted and was forced to carry “looted properties”. Asked why he went, he stated that he was held at gunpoint. He testified that they were taken to Camp Rosos where they were trained together with other children as child combatants. He also stated that they were given drugs which according to their trainers were for courage. He also noted that the drugs made him feel mad. Among his duties was food finding. He also testified that he reported to 55 and Gullit who were his bosses.

TF1-158 testified that he was able to escape from Rosos and went to Bonoya and later went to Kumayusufu where he stayed until the Lome Peace Accord. Following another attack on Kabala, the witness was captured and taken to Kamabai where he was re-trained together with other children. He testified that he was engaged in active combat, noting that he was part of the force that attacked Kabala after his training. Testifying about disarmament, he noted that he was given an armband with the words “ex-child soldier” and was later taken to a town called Lunsar. During cross-examination Terry Munyard attempted to establish inconsistencies between previous statement and oral evidence. Counsel noted that the witness was 10 years old when he was captured and might not be able to distinguish between various languages spoken by RUF, and also noted that the witness cannot recall his abductors. The witness was shown his prior statement in which he had stated that there were SLAs in Rosos and when asked in Court he testified that there were no SLAs in Rosos. Koumjian conducted a short re-examination and established that the mosque in Bonoya was a small old building.    

On Wednesday, Prosecutor Alain Werner introduced the 67^th prosecution witness TF1-023, a Rule 92 bis witness. The witness is from the Mende tribe and also speaks English and Krio. She has testified in the AFRC trial and the transcripts were marked for identification. The witness confirmed that she has given testimony before the SCSL and also confirmed other documents relating to the names of her abductors.

Griffiths during cross-examination noted that between 1991 and 1997 the witness was living in Freetown and that her family was being suppressed by the AFRC government. Counsel attempted to establish that the witness first made contact with AFRC fighters in January 1999 when the invading fighters repeatedly visited their house. Also the witness was captured on January 22^nd and witnessed atrocities being committed by the forces. The witness was shown a map of Freetown and counsel attempted to establish the routes that were used when the witness was taken to Magbeni and how she escaped back to Freetown after 7 months. Griffiths asked about prior statements and asked questions relating to payments made by the OTP, noting that the witness is a student and on several occasion received money from OTP for lost wages. The witness stated that she was not given money for lost wages and had no idea as to why the disbursement form states payment for lost wages. The disbursement form was marked for identification. Alain Werner conducted a brief re-examination, touching on issues relating to AFRC and RUF fighters.

Prosecutor Kathryn Howarth introduced the 68^th prosecution witness, a victim of sexual violence testifying under Rule 92 bis. The witness was born in 1980 and speaks Mende, Temne, Krio and English. She has testified in the AFRC trial in 2005 and identified the transcript of that proceeding.

Munyard conducted cross-examination and attempted to establish that the witness had testified in the AFRC trial and had spoken with the OTP telling them about her abduction by SLA fighters who referred to themselves as “junta”. The witness testified about attack on Kabala town and explained how civilians were killed. The transcript form the AFRC trial was tendered as prosecution exhibit.

Prosecutor Julia Baly introduced the 69^th prosecution witness TF1-231, Sarah Koroma. She was born in Kabumba and speaks Limba and Krio. She testified that she was in Wellington when the rebels attacked Freetown in 1999. She stated that she fled with her family and hid in a bush until the rebels announced that civilians should returned to their houses or if found in the bush they would be killed. On their way home they were captured by rebels and her hand was chopped of and her husband was killed. She also noted that rebels committed other atrocities, noting that hands and limbs were chopped off and people were hacked to death. The witness further stated that when she arrived at the Connaught hospital there were many amputees.

During cross-examination Morris Anyah established that the witness had earlier testified in the RUF trial and had given her age as 40 years as opposed to her oral testimony wherein she testified that she does not know her age. The witness noted that she met with OTP investigators and went to testify in order to prosecute those who amputated her. She stated that she needs support from people as she cannot fend for herself and that she has never had about Taylor except from the government of Sierra Leone. She confirmed her knowledge of atrocities committed by rebels including the death of her husband.

Prosecutor Mohamed Bangura introduced the 70^th prosecution witness TF1-084 Mohamed Samson Bah, born in Kisi town and is 55 years old. Bah has testified in the AFRC trial in 2005 and is testifying under Rule 92 bis, the transcript and other documents were shown to him and marked for identification.  

Terry Munyard conducted cross-examination and noted that the witness is 60 years old. Counsel also noted that the witness had two wives and has divorced the first. Counsel further noted that the witness was not been working after he was amputated but has been receiving money from the OTP for lost wages. The witness however noted that he was given money for transportation and food.

On Thursday, Munyard continued with the cross-examination of Bah noting that the witness received a total of 1,814,000 Leones from the OTP and WVS for transport, food, medical expenses and lost wages. Counsel noted that the witness had not testified about “Liberian speaking rebels” but has mentioned it in 2008 when making statement to OTP investigators. Asked why, the witness stated that he told the investigators about these people prior to 2008. Bangura conducted a brief re-examination and asked the witness about “Liberian English”. The witness noted that he heard this on two occasions. The transcript and other documents were tendered as exhibit and the witness pleaded to the court to provide protection for him and his family.

Prosecutor Julia Baly called the 71^st prosecution witness TF1-098 testifying under Rule 92 bis. Defence counsel Morris Anyah submitted a motion for reconsideration, relating to disqualification of judges pursuant to Rule 15 of the Court’s Rules. He noted that the judges have described the witness as credible and this has already militated against their bias. The judges however ruled that the application cannot be reconsidered as there is already a ruling and defence can only make a new application.

Julia introduced the witness, Alpha Jalloh born in 1973 and speaks Fullah, Temne and Krio. The witness has testified in the AFRC trial and the transcript was shown to the witness and marked for identification. Anyah conducted cross-examination and attempted to establish that Jalloh had his hand amputated in 1999 by a rebel called Tommy. Asked about Liberian English, the witness testified that some of the rebels who attacked Freetown in 1999 were speaking Liberian English and he was able to recognize it because he had lived with Liberians. Asked about STF and ULIMO, the witness stated that he has not heard about STF but heard that Liberians were fighting alongside SLA. Counsel noted that from a speech by former President Kabbah that ULIMO/STF had been working with SLA since 1992. The witness noted that he does not know the names of the factions but some were Sierra Leoneans and others were Liberians. Counsel also established that the witness was given a total of 2,707,000 Leones as payment for lost wages, transport and medical care. The transcript for the AFRC trial and other documents were tendered as prosecution exhibit.

Prosecutor Wainer called the 72^nd prosecution witness TF1-104 Samuel Radder John who has testified in the RUF trial. A copy of the transcript was marked for identification and was cross-examined by Munyard. He noted that the witness has added to his prior statement of 2005, noting that the witness has added issues relating to Liberian English. He also established that the witness was amputated on the 18^th January 1999. Asked about STF, John stated that he did not know exactly who they were and that he was not aware about Liberian mercenaries fighting in Sierra Leone. He noted that he met with Liberians in his medical institution. The transcript for the RUF trial and other documents were exhibited.

Prosecutor Brenda Hollis called the 73^rd prosecution witness TF1-085, Akiatu Tholley, a sexual violence witness. She testified that on January 1999, rebels attacked Wellington in the east of Freetown and threatened to burn their house if they refused to open their door. She testified about atrocities, noting that her mother and a 3 years old boy were amputated. She further stated that she was abducted and taken to Allen Town where she was raped in a church. She testified that she was taken to Waterloo near Freetown together with other civilians. Court was adjourned to Monday 27^th October as training will be conducted for SCSL staff on Friday 24^th October 2008.