9:00am: Presiding Judge Doherty calls the Court to session. Cautions the witness that his oath continues to be binding.
Def: Yesterday when we concluded the proceedings i was asking you about your knowledge of certain alleged contacts between the NPFL and the RUF. Is is right that prior to the RUF invasion of Sierra Leone in 1991, the NPFL forces were trading peacefully with the security forces and civilians in Sierra Leone. Do you recall that?
Wit: I would’nt know because my assignment did not cover that.
Def: Were you aware of social contacts between NPFL forces and Sierra Leone security forces and civilians like football matches?
Wit: I would’nt know because my assignment was far away from the Sierra Leonean border.
Def: Were you not involved in any discussions with any NPFL officials regarding the situation?
Wit: No
Def: During discussions regarding Kuwait, did you not hear that?
Wit: I heard about Kuwait but I did not know they were refering to Sierra Leone. Before the war I was aware of trade between the two countries but not at this time.
Def: Do you recall President J.S Momoh of Sierra Leone ordering his forces to push the NPFL 28 miles into Liberia?
Wit: Yes
Def: And that was before RUF entered Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes
Def: I want to move on to another topic, the elections of 1997. You campaigned in that election?
Wit: Yes
Def: All the major factions in the conflict made preparations for the elections and declared they will form political parties?
Wit: You are correct
Def: And Taylor, Koroma of ULIMO-K and Gbolie all announced their intention to contest the elections?
Wit: Yes
Def: The elections were monitored by independent observers who declared the elections free and fair?
Wit: You are correct
Def: And Taylor was elected president?
Wit: Yes
Def: And a landslide victory was won by the NPP?
Wit: Yes
Def: Thereafter constituted the legitimate government of the country?
Wit: Yes
Def: All sides accepted the results.
Wit: Yes
Def: At the time when the NPP of which you were a member took over the goverenment in 1997, the economy was in a bad state?
Wit: Yes
Def: One of the immediate concerns was to generate income for the country and get the economy back on its feet?
Wit: Yes
Def: And to reinforce the Liberian army?
Wit: Yes
Def: Because the primary concern was that during the Doe regime, the army was dominated by Krahns?
Wit: Yes
Def: And it was important to diversify the army?
Wit: Yes
Def: And in 1998, the defense ministry retired many soldiers?
Wit: Yes
Def: But one consequence of that was that in May 1998, many retired soldiers protested for their retirement benefits?
Wit: Yes
Def: And the government announced its intention to start a social program, which helped many former fighters with free medical care and education up to university and vocational level?
Wit: Yes
Def: Dealing with the security situation in the country in 1997, in reality, the only effective force in the country was ECOMOG, numbering about 10,500, primarily Nigerians?
Wit: Yes
Def: And they were effectively in charge of securitry?
Wit: Yes
Def: In effect, ECOMOG were also primarily responsible for policing in Liberia?
Wit: Yes
Def: And there were instances of ECOMOG abusing their powers?
Wit: Yes
Def: And that casused some outrage in Liberia?
Wit: Yes
Def: Nonethelese, despite their committing of atrocities, ECOMOG were able to establish control in a large part of Liberia?
Wit: Yes
Def: Despite the fact that their had been free elections and some disamrmament, there was still an underlying tension in the country?
Wit: Yes
Def: Do you recall that the ECOMOG commander was Victor Malu?
Wit: You are correct
Def: Lets just get a flavour of what life was like in post election Liberia. Please show the witness MFI-25. This is a newspaper article you were shown during your examination, we observe that this is an edition of the Daily Times published on July 24 1998, take note of two articles, the first one talks “Speaker Laments Social Ills.” This talks about a conference that Taylor chaired during which speakers observed that there is a social tension between the government and the governed. Two observations that you can assist with. First is, do you recall this conference?
Wit: Yes
Def: the second thing is that it will appear that the speakers at the conference were critical of the government?
Wit: Yes
Def: Do you note that it was the measure of free speech that warranted such criticsm even in Taylor’s presence?
Wit: Yes
Def: The second article is the one headed “Guns, rice, traded for diamonds.” The article notes that Taylor was trying to foster a good relationship with Sierra Leone, do you agree?
Wit: Yes
Def: Do you remember that paper reporting about certain elements within Sierra Leone and Liberia?
Wit: Yes
Def: So that gives us something of a flavour of the nature of post election Liberia. Please show the witness MFI-28. This is a copy of the Liberian constitution. Page 12 of 24 please. Now we note at Article 51, the powers of the Vice-President. Were you familiar with the statement of your powers?
Wit: Yes, I whould know
Def: So you appreciated that one of your functions was to assist the president in the discharge of his duties?
Wit: Yes
Def: Did you do that?
Wit: Well let me elaborate. The law also says that the president, when he deems it necessary, will invite you to perform certain duties.
Def: Did you assist him?
Wit: Only when the president deemed it necessary but I was also busy with the senate. He would request my assistance sometimes.
Def: Did Taylor ever request your assistance in the discharge of his functions?
Wit: Yes on occassions, like when there were disputes in the provinces.
Def: So did you assist him?
Wit: When it was necessary
Def: Did you attend cabinet meetings?
Wit: I agree with the constitution but Taylor’s government was not like a normal government and so I was mostly in Lofa, Buchanan making sure that things were ok. So I did not attend all meetings, only when I was in Monrovia.
Def: Did you travel abroad to represent the president?
Wit: when he deemed it necessary, yes
Def: Did you attend government meetings?
Wit: I was very busy with other things and I was absent most of the time.
Def: Wuld you agree in summary that according to the constitution, the role of the V.P. was an important one?
Wit: I know, but it was the president that chose the vice president and so you really have no power but directly work under his instructions. On the side of the executive, I took instructions, but at the Capitol, I was president and so I was very busy.
Def: In addition to being V.P. you were also a special commander. And you also held the rank of Lt. General?
Wit: Correct
Def: Indeed, you had the code name Scorpion?
Wit: Yes
Def: And you headed a battalion called the Scorpion Battalion?
Wit: No, never, never, never
Def: But you held a high military rank?
Wit: Yyes
DEf: Did you chair a commiteee on light and water?
Wit: Yes, as V.P.
Def: Were you also known as the no nonsense general?
Wit: No
Def. Can the witness be shown the defense binder. Do you recognize the photograph?
Wit: It is not clear except the 5 Star General.
Def: Who is the 5 Star General?
Wit: Former President Taylor
Def: Do you recognize anybody else?
Judge Sebutinde: It will be helpful if the witness can move and point at the picture with a pen.
Wit: (Witness identifies):Former President Taylor, this is Moses Blah, Momoh Djibba, Foreign Minister Monnie Kaptan, the rest I can’t remember.
Def: Well I have the original of the photograph and let me help you with it. Taylor is the one in the middle, the person to his left with the red hat is you.
Wit: Yes
Judge Lussick: The witness is actually to the president’s right.
Wit: Yes
Def: The tall gentlement to the left is General Djiba. Now the gentleman behind him is foreign minister Monie Kaptan.
Wit: I have seen another fellow here with the white shirt, who is he?
Def: Do you recall the occasion recorded in the photograph?
Wit: No
Def: Let me show you another photograph. Would your honours give me a moment please?
Judge: Yes
Def: My apologies, could we put the initial photograph again please. Now you’ve identified president Taylopr and the others, just behind you in that photo in the white suit is that Richard Flumo, minister of interior?
Wit: Yes
Def: Can we now go to the second photograph? In this photo, to your right in that photo, is the Chief of Defense Staff, general Kpana Konna, isn’t it?
Wit: Yes
Def: Putting all of these together and it appears these photos are taken on the same occassion, we have all of you present, the most of the most important ministers. Can you remember what this meeting is about?
Wit: No I can’t remember, it is normal that when the president is around, I am also around. This does not look like a meeting. It looks like being on his farm when all senior ministers are around him.
Def: Let me just conclude the photos, this is the next one, the second page within your bundles, your honours.
Wit: Taylor shaking hands with Flumo, this is Blah (me), and at the back is one of the ADCs to the president.
Def: Lets look at the very last photograph. Who do we have in this photograph?
Wit: Bodygurad to the president, this is Taylor, this is Chief of Staff of the army, and this is me.
Def: Before I continue, can I have the photograph marked for identification please?
Judge Doherty: MFI-30a is the first photo. MFI-30b the secnod, c the third and d the fourth.
Def: Thank you your honour. Madam Court Officer you can retain the originals please. Before we leave the photos, what is the significance that you are wearing a military fatigue?
Wit: I was part of the former NPFL army and former inspector general and was second in command.
Wit:Def; So does that reflect your significance in decision making on military matters?
Wit: No, it was Taylor that made the decisions.
Def: Now, it also means that you on occassions you will carry out military operations?
Wit: No.
Def: Can we just for a moment forget the photographs. As V.P, did you on any occassions carry out military operations?
Wit: No. In a civilian governemnt, I had no control over the army. It was only the president as commander in chief who had such powers. Next to him was the Chief of Defense Staff.
Judge Sebutinde: Are you saying that in spite of you carrying the title of General and wearing a uniform, you did not have any control in military matters?
Wit: No. I had no such powers. I only wore uniforms because we had just come from a war.
Def: On Thursday of last wek, page 1000 of the transcript, in June 2002, you were living in Congo Town on Duport Road, did that road have any other significance for you?
Wit: Not that I know of. I just rented a house there and there were other people living on the same road.
Def: Does the name Operation Grass Hopper have any significance for you?
Wit: No
Def: Are you aware of any evidence about you and that operatiuon given to the TRC?
Wit: No. Infact when i was Inspector gen, i was named the weak inspector general.
Def: Can the witness be shown page 6 behind divider one of the defense bundle please. have you seen this publication before.?
Wit: No
Def: You will see that it talks about confessions at the TRC, dated Jan. 2nd 2008. You will see references made to Operation Grass Hopper, see page 7, testifying further, witness disclosed that the former V.P of Liberia Blah personally supervised the execution of Operation Grass Hopper on Duport Road.
Wit: This is a blinking lie and we’ll get to it when the time comes. Infact, the Liberian people have condemned this man for telling this lie. I have responded to this and more evidence will come out to debunk this. I do not know about Operation Grass Hopper. I moved to Duport Road only after the war.
Def: But you said you have responded to it at the TRC, how can you respond to something you did not know about?
Wit: I went and registered my intention to testify at the TRC. The whole of the NPFL will tell you i never headed any operation and that i never fought even. I went to TRC after seeing this paper and told them i will testify to clarify these issues. Debleh is a criminal, he looted before and i punished him. he was not a soldier but a criminal. Dont take these papoers serious
Def: Will you be giving evidence to the TRC to refute the allegatioon against you?
Wit: Yes when they call me to do so, i will.
Def: So i take it that as soon as you get to Liberia, you will appear before the TRC?
Wit: If it is necessary and they call me, i’ll be glad to do so.
Def; Lets move to another topic. Can we have a talk about SBUs please
Wit: Yes
Def: The war caused the displacememnt of thousands of people within lIberia. One consequence was, literally, young people started following the fighters around?
Wit: Yes
DEf: And in due course, it was necessary to invlove them?
‘Wit: Yes
Def; And they willingly joined the NPFL?
Wit: Yes
Def: Did you have a SBU attached to you?
Wit: yes
Def: Up to now?
Def: So you still have them
Def: I had one SBU who is still with me. His name is Tamahali. In his case, I saw him and he had been trained, i said he was a small boy and so should not fight so he sould come and stay with me. Whe NPFL was dissolved, i told him that he should stay with me and go to school.
Judge: How old was this boy when he came to you?
Wit: 13
Def; Did he then undergo military training?
Wit: He had done so before i saw him.
Def: At the time that you had a SBU, did you have any moral concerns about that?
Wit: Yes, this is why i took him away from combat to come and stay with me. He was too small and thats why i took him not to fight.
Def: Through out the war, did you ever express concerns aboiut SBUs?
Wit: This is another difficult thing. What power did i ever have to say that? I could be fined or taken to the tribunal for breaking a unit. Some were forced to join the revolution, some joined voluntarily, some are working for the UN now
Def: How many boys did you have in your SBU?
Wit: I only had that little boy.
Def: Were you ever a commander of an SBU
Wit: Never. What i meant is that i had a boy from the SBU, but i didn’t command any SBU.
Def: As Inspector Gen, did you not consider it appropriate to raise your voice about thse use of SBUs?
Wit: That would have costed my life. What power will i have on the commandets. I knew it was against the Geneva Conventiosn to use SBUs but how would i have said it?
Def: So you were aware of the Geneva Conventions?
Wit: I knew of it when i was a litrt;e boy
Def: Did you not consider it right to tell your colleagues about the use opf these SBUs?
Wit: I did many thinhgs like addressing rape, but question like this would have put me in danger.
Def: So Mr. Taylor used green ink to sign his orders to you right?
Wit: When the matter was important, he will sign in green ink. This meant that there is an order from the commander in chief
Def: You used to refer to Taylor as Zieh (witness laughs).
Wit: Zieh means brother in law. I called him so in private (witness and counsel exchange laughs).
Def: Now you know that there were amputations in Sierra Leone. When you went to the amputee camp in Freetown, you found it upsetting. And that did not apply to the war in Liberia?
Wit: You are correct
Def: Let me ask you about another matter please. Let the witness be shown MFI-22c. First, one question on amputations. Were you aware of any amputations in Liberia
Wit: No
Def: Now just for the matter of clarification, you told us that the inividual in the white univeform was Musa Njai?
Wit: Yes
Def: That is actually Momoh Djibba right?
Wit: No. The photo is not clear, they were both ADCs so they wore the same uniform. Djibb is tall and this man is short.
Def: OK, i wont press that. Please put up for me MFI-29, behind divider 10. Let show the witness the page that says 0003145. Under subsec c of the code, can your help us with what informatory material is?/
Wot: To protect all documents which are top secrets.
Def: Such as. You said earlier you are familier with this document.
Wit: I really dont know what it is
Def: During your examination, you told us about Benjamin Yeaten and the massacre of some excombatants at some bridge.
Wit: Yes
Def: Now the goverment leased some property to accommodate some ex-combatants?
Wit: No. I know that they forced themselves into some houses
Def: But they were provided with medical care?
Wit: Yes
Def: And food subsistence and money?
Wit: Yes
Def: If i understand your evidence correctly, you have knowlege of four arm shipments right? The first you arranged transport for from Cote D’Voire to Liberia
Wit: Yes
Def: On suspicion, you were arrested of having diverted them to Prince Johnson, but when it was fiound out that you were innocent, you were made to arrange for three more shipments right?
Wit: yes but i should elaborate on that further.
Def: The third shipment was when an aeroplane crashed at Roberts airport. You went there to investigate and you saw two white ment wit Ukrainian passport?
Wit: I did not go there to investigate
Def: The fourth was one that came before Taylor left power but was seized by UNMIL.
Wit: I canot just limit my knowlege to those four though i mentioned them in my testimony.
Def: And last week you said you were unaware of any shipment by air to the NPFL?
Wit: How will i be unaware when i sat on the plane. What i said was that i went to Ouagadogou and later discovered that there was a shipment that was to come to Liberia for the government. I did not go for the shipment to Cote D’voire, but that i went with a message to the president of Burkina Faso. We did not go to arrange for arms and ammunition.
Def: Its at page 992 of the transcrips of Thrusday of last week. You said you did not know of any shipments coming by air to NPFL?
Wit: I cant remember the time that all these happened. These happend about close to 20 years ago.
Def: Final question on this topic, would it be fair to say that throughout your involvement with the NPFL and the Taylor government, arms were in short supply to the government?
Wit: Yes
Def: let me move to another topic. Do you recall the name Johnny Paul Koroma?
Wit: yes
Def: Who was he?
Wit: He was the leader of the junta in Sierra Leone. I dont know him in detail.
Def: Do you recall that there was a time when he was held prisoner by the RUF?
Wit: No i cant recall that.
Def: Do you recall at some stage, on an effort to progress with peace talks in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Taylor called JPK to Liberia for peace talks?
Wit: Yes
Def: And he went to Liberia in Aug. 1999
Wit: Yes
Def: And Sankoh later came to Liberia
Wit: Yes
Def: And Taylor talked peace between them right?
Wit: Yes
Def: Were you in this meeting?
Wit: Yes
Def: And Taylor brokered that process in conjunction with President Kabba?
Wit: Yes
Def: Thereafret, the two of them returned to Freetown on the same flight, do you remember that?
Wit: Yes, i remember that.
Def: And this was part of the process that led to the Lome accord?
Wit: Yes
Def: And later you heard that JPK had died in that Liberia?
Wit: Yes i heard the rumour that he was killed in the Liberia forests.
Def: Will it be fair to say you cannot be certain that the rumours were correct?
Wit: Yes, that is why we call it rumour
Def: Now you first encounterd Yeaten in Libya. At which stage, he ws about 16 and you were in late 30s?
Wit: Yes
Def; But he was from Nimba County like you?
Wit: yes
Def: Over time, Yeaten came to have lots of power in Liberia?
Wit: yes
Def: And you feared that he had more power than you even though you were vice president, and you were not happy with that?
Wit: No
Def: And you thought he was quite disrespectful?
Wit: You are correct, he used to wash my clothes in Libya.
Def: And many people said Yeaten behaved like he was above the law?
Wit: Yes
Def; And sometimes Yeaten will act without the authourity of Taylor?
Wit: I cant tell
Def: And will it be fair to say that people perceived his actions as being orders that came from the president?
Wit: I cant tell but he had grown powerful.
DEf: And people will not question his authority, assuming he was acting on the president’s behalf?
Wit: I agree 100%
Def: When you were acting presidnet, did you give Yeaten leave of absence to leave Liberia?
Wit: When i was president, i did that
Def: So he left with your consent?
Wit: Yes, i gave him permission to go see his famnily in Cote D’Voire. He was still my SSS director. He was a free man and i allowed to go.
Def: Now lets move on to Sam Bockarie. Firstly, when did you first become aware of Bockarie?
Wit: We have gone to date again and time. But to my knowlege, when he crossed into Liberia, coming to Nimba County, at that time, i was travelling from Monrovia to my village.
Def: I note the time your honours and will want to go into more details, so i wonder if i can do that after the break.
Judge Doherty: Yes that is true. Mr. Witness, as usual, we’ll take our morning break.
Court adjourns at 11:30am
12:00pm: Cour resumes after morning break. Defense Counsel Griffiths resumes cross examination
Def: You were telling me earlier on that your first knowlege of Bockarie was when he crossed into Liberia with arms. Prior to that, had you heard of him?
Wit: Yes
Def: Had you heard of him as commander of the RUF?
Wit: Yes
Def: In what context had you heard of him
Wit: I heard that he was in Cote D’Voire fighting against some rebels and that he was trying to cross into Liberia. It was only when i went to Ganta that people told me had just passed with a large chunk of ammuniation. I was on my way to my farm when i saw Bockarie himself on Harrisson Campbell’s plantation. He told me that it was Yeaten who brought him there and he was sleeping at Campbells’s place. I left him there and went to my farn.
Def; Was there a time, prior to all of that when you became aware of him and his activities in Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes
Def: And what did you know about him?
Wit: Lets forget about Sierra Leone too, he was in Monrovia and he was driving Yeaten’s car. I know who Bockarie is and his activities in Sierra Leone
Judge Doherty: You cant say lets forget about him in Sierra Leone
Wit: I knew of him in Sierra Leone, he was fighting there
Def; Did you have any contact with him while he was fighting in S.L?
Wit: yes
DEf: during that time, did you know of any contact betweem Monrovia and Bockarie?
Wit: No
Def: Any contact between Taylor and Bockarie?
Wit: I wouldnt know
Def: You first encountered him in company with Yeatan
Wit: Yes
Def: Last week, you said you first saw him on Tubman blvd but did not speak to him
Wit: Yes
Def: And the next time was when he entered into Liberia with a large chunk of ammunition?
Wit: Yes
Def: He had been fighting with rebel forces in Coite D’Voire, right?
Wit: Yes
Def: And further, most of the fighting in Cote D’Voire just near Nimba County. He was known to have killed a rebel in Cote D’Vopire called Doe, and he was chased by rebels from there right?
Wit: yes
Def: A huge foreign force entered Liberia and was a concern to Liberia right?
Wit: Yes
Def: So President Taylor was consulting with his ministers as to what to do. And he consulted you?
Wit: yes
DEf: You suggestion was to arrest Bockarie and get him out of the country?
Wit; You are correct
Def: The concern was any attempt to force his army out of the country might result in bloodshed right?
Wit: He was in our country and he could be controled anytime.
Def: It was decided that he was to be arrested at all cost including if necessary the use of force
Wit: I was not a part of this decision in that direction.
Def: Are you honestly saying you were unaware of that decision?
Wit: Yes
Def: You remember the occassion you saw him with the large chunk of ammunition?
Wit: Yes, he was in Harrisson Karnweas house.
Def: Was that in Nimba County?
Wit:L Yes
Def: And that is your home County?
Wit: Yes
Def: Were you not assigned to ensure that MODEL were controled?
Wit: Yes
Def: Were you sent to Nimba to arrest the advance of MODEL where your home was located?
Wit: That is where my house was located so i had to check on my home town Tapata, for the safety of my peopel.
Def: Am I right that this was occuring at the same time that Bockarie was in Nimba county?
Wit: No it was little but before the war got serious in Nimba County.
Def: What i am suggestiuon is that rather that you voluntarily going to Nimba, you’d been assigned to go and take care of a situation there.
Wit: I was VP and so was not assigned to combat
Def: As I.G, one of your duties was to assess the situation on the ground and report to the president?
Wit: yes
Def: At the time we are talking about, you were Major Gen right?
Wit: I was major gen in the defunct NPFL and VP of Liberia.
Def: You were Lt. Gen at that time?
Wit: Yes
Def: In that capacity, you were instructed to go Nimba to secure the peaceful surrender and arrest of Bockarie?
Wit: No
Def: Do you recall that Bockarie initially left Sierra Leone in 1999 and was in Liberia till 2001, then went to Burkina Faso for about a year
Wit: Yes
Def: And it was withinn that time that he fought in Ivory Coast right?
Wit: Yes
Def: So the incidents we are talking about are occuring about May 2003?
Wit: Yes
Def: And it was within this time that he was killed?
Wit: Yes
Def: What i am suggesting is that you were instructed to go and secure the surrender of Bockarie and you thereafter reported that he had died in a cross fire with Liberian troops
Wit: I disagree with you
Def: Last week, you gave an account of his death by Yeaten, not a firsthand report right?
Wit: Yes
Def; You told us you’d heard third hand via a bodyguard to Yeaten who told your bodyguard who inturn told you that he was strangled right?
Wit: Thats at the end of my statement
Def: You said Yeaten and Bockarie arrived at your house with soldiers, with their respective wives and a tall unidetntified woman. Having fed them, they left
Wit: Yes
Def: later that same night, word came to you of heavy fighting at the border, right?
Wit: No. It was that night that Yeaten’s bodyguard told my bodyguard that there was a mission. My bodyguard came and knocked at my door that there was something going on at the border and that it was not good to stay in the town. So we took off for Monrovia.
Def: And you took off because word came that the fighting my reach your address
Wit: Yes
DEf; And on your way to Monroevia, you encounterd Yeaten
Wit: yes
Def: And he told you to go and look into the pick up, and you went and saw Bockarie’s body in same combat that he had worn the previous night, with his bodyguard who had been beheaded.
wit: Yes
Def: So what injurisae did you note in his body?
Wit: He lay on his back and so i did not see bullet marks, i didnt have time to inspect the body because i was quite suprised. When i asked Yeaten what happened. Yeaten said that my idea to hand Bockarie over to the S.L governemmnet was risky since he will expose our government. I was angry becaiuse i was not informed of that operation.
Def: When you first saw his body, you did not notice any injuries to his body?
Wit: I did not see any injuries since i just loooked at his back.
Def: You said in due cause, you were informed that Bockarie had been choked to death, do you remember saying that?
Wit: When you jump into the middle of the question, it gets confusing, i was not there when he was choked, my own idea was to arrest him and hand him over to the S.L government. I was not there when he was killed.
Def: Do you recall saying that the information you got as to the cause of death was that he was strangled?
Wit: Yes, the explanation i got from Yeaten was that my idae was not good since sending him to Freetowmn will also put us into trouble
Def: Show the witness the defense bundle behind binder three. Were you aware that an autopsy was conducted on his body?
Wit: No
Def: Lets turn to Page 2 of the document please. ” Autopsy on the alleged body of Special Court indictee…” Were you aware of this autopsy that was conducted
Wit: I said no.
Def: Lets turn to the third page…findings, gun battle…this information has still not been substantiated.
Wit: yes
Def: Then if we move quickly to page 11 please, at the top pf the page…no evidence of bruising…page 13 please, two bullet holes each measuring 3 centemeters. Commentary on Page 16, the history indicates that this…died of gun battle on that same day….examinations revealed five exit wounds…This suggest that four bulltes entered his chest from the front and one from the pelvis through the front. So when you looked at his body, did you notice any wounds on his body?
Wit: No i did not, i did not check the body, i watched it from a distance and left.
Def: You as a military man could recognize gunshot wounds to the chest?
Wit: i did not inspect for all of that, i waeched it from a distance and left.
Def: How would you have missed the bullet wounds to that uniform you recognized the previosu night?
Wit: I saw the uniform and recognized Bockarie and left
Def: And you said you had nothing to do with the transportation of his body to Monrovia?
Wit: I left and did not do anything with the body. Infact, we were so confused that night that we hit our own vehicle on our way to Monrovia. I was disturbed when i saw the body and i left. The pick up carrying him followed and we kept crossing each other on the road but i was not going with the body. I was rushing to ask the president whether he had hands in this. Yeaten told me that this was a military matter in which i had no hands.
Def; Does the name Lawrence warmah ring a bell to you?
Wit: No
Def: What about Bongeray?
Wit: Yes
Def: Wsa he your personal bodyguard?
Wit: No, i never had him as bodyguar right through the war.
Def: Does the name Jusu Momoh mean anything to you?
Wit: No
Def: Could the witness be shown the documemt behind binder 4. Do you know Samuel A Striker?
Wit: yes
Def: So do you know Jusu Momoh
Wit: No
Def: Does the name Eugen Gnabgeh mean anything to you?
Wit: He was my chief of staff
Def: Did you at that time own a pick up truck?
Wit: No
Def: Did you instruct your chief of staff to take three bodies to that funeral home?
Wit: No
Def: Did you at or anypoint around that time speak to the S.L ambassador Patrick Foya?
Wit: No
Def:Did you know of the S.L abmassadoe Foya
Wit: Yes
Def: Can you provide us with a credible reason why Momoh would want to lie about you?
Wit: No. 100% no.
Def: Giving what you are telling us that you dont know Momoh, can you tell us why he will want to quote you?
Wit: I dont know why.
Def: Does your account regarding Momh’s statement say it is completely false?
Wit: the document and statement are all false
Def: You note from the document that it was sworn before witnesses, on the holy book.
Wit: Some people swear on bibles and lie. I am a Christian and not a liar.
Def: I suggest to you that you are much more involved in the death of Bockarie than you have said here
Wit: No
Def: Can we please go behind divider one, lets look at page 4 of the document. Lets highlight the sentence at the bottom. This is a report of an interview conducted by start radio…”Mr. Blah said he could not tell who killed Bockarie…but saw the body in the company of Yeaten..” Is it true that you havent got a clue as to who killed Bockarie?
Wit: No
Def: Does it follwo that you dont know why he was killed?
Wit: That i wouldnt say that i dont know.
Def: Lets move to another topic please. Last Wednesday, on Page 9874 of the transcropt, just before 3:00 in the afeternoon, you said Taylor won the elections in 1997 and that you travelled with him to Togo, and tha Sankoh was there. Did you go to Togo for peace talks.
Wit: Yes, to bring peace in S.L
Def: Why had you gone with Taylor to Togo
Wit: To bring peace to S.L
Def: Who had organized the talks in Togo
Wit: Togolese presiudent
Def; What was the peace about?
Wiyt: I was instructed by my presidnet that we lgo and help facilitate peace talks in S.L
Def: Do you recall now that this was in 1999.
Wit: I cannot remember the date.
Def: Do you recall when Taylor was asked to be a member of four in Sierra Leone. Whats was it for?
Wit: To bring peace in the region
Def: Is it right that Taylor was aksed by his colleagues to take charge and try and bring peace to S.L
Wit: yes
Def: Is it right that Taylor worked in consultation with his colleagues in ECOWAS, the UN and other partners to bring peace toi S.L, is it true?
Wit: Yes
Def: And it was part of the process that you were sent as Taylor’s special envoy to S.L, Mali and other countries to deliver messages about the advancement of peace in S.L
Wit: I agree
Def: And the liberian government provided facilities to bring peace in S.L
Wit: Not to my knowlege
Def: And do you recall that Taylor provided a satelite phone to enhance communication with Bockarie, and air and land transportation to RUF personel?
Wit: Not to my knowlege
Def: And guest houses to RUF personel?
Wit: Yes
Def: Why was this done?
Wit: I wouldnt know
Def: Was the guest house provided during the peace process?
Wit: Yes, but i didnt know the intention why iy was provided.
Def: Do you recall that the S.L border with Liberia was closed to force the RUF to talk peace?
Wit: Yes
Def: Do you recall that the former Liberian foreign minister Dorothy Musuling Cooper served as Taylor’s envoy to the Lome Accord?
Wit: yes
Def: Do you further recall that betweent the 5th of July and midnight of the 6th of July 1999 Taylor joined his African coleagues to finalise the Lome agreement?
Wit: Yes
Def:Do you recall that Sankoh wanted to renege at the last minute before the Lome agreement was signed?
Wit: Yes
DEf: Do you agree that Taylor worked hard to secure peace in S.L. Do you agree?
Wit: I agree
Def: Let me move to another topic. We were helpfully provided with exhibits. Behind divider one, that should be the document bearing the logo of the UN. headed Security Council. Can i invite attention to page 4206, paragrapghs 29, 30 and 31. In May 1998, do you recall that Taylor was involed in setting up the meetinsg which led to the Lome agreement?
Wit: yes
Def: Do you recall Taylor’s suggestion that troops should be deployed at the border between S.L and Liberia to assure the world that Liberia was not involved in the war in Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes
Def: Can we move please to page 4215. Paragraph 78 please headed “Proposed Action to be taken by the UN.” Are you aware that the UN commended Liberia for its efforts to bring peace to Sierra Leone?
Wit: yes
Def: Are you awaree that there were allegations especially by the UK and USA that Liberia was funding the war in S.L?
Wit: yes
Def: Do you recall that Liberia had problems funding its own troops, do you remember?
Wit: yes
Def: At that time, did you as a nation send amrs to S.L?
Wiyt: There were no arms at that time
Def: Do you recall Liberia suggesting options as to how the international world could monitor the situation and prove that Liberia was not funding rebels in Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes
Def: Was this a spirited attempt by Liberia to dispell the multitude of rumours built up by the USA and UK?
Wit: You are correct in a sense?
Def: Can we swiftly moved ti behind divider 25 please. This is a letter dated 10th of July 1998 from the permamnent Rep of Nigeria to the UN, addressed to the Security Council. It was the subject of a communique issued on 2nd July 1998. Do you recall this document?
Wit: Yes
Def: That will be a convinient point your honours
Judge Dougherty: We’ll now get our normal lunch break.
Court goes into recess at 1:30pm.