2:30: Court resumes. Cross-examination of witness Kargbo continues.
Def: Let’s deal with the way you earned your living after the Lome addendums were agreed in 1999. You came back to Sierra Leone in September 1999. Were you in employment after you came back?
Wit: Yes I was reinstated into the army.
Def: And you left the army in 2001 after threats from the government, right?
Wit: Yes
Def: So did that mean you went into hiding like you did in 2003?
Wit: I was still free until I joined the Wackenhaut Security Company.
Def: When in 2001 did you leave the army?
Wit: I can’t remember the right month but it was within the first six months.
Def: Back to 2001, you left the army within the first 6 months because of threat to your life?
Wit: Yes. By then the British were saying we should go through the training but we had not yet gone through the training and they were searching my house. So I just thought it wise to quit.
Def: When you left the security company, is it still in 2001 or it was now in 2002?
Wit: I didnt have a job by the end of 2001.
Def: Around December 2002 to January 2003, you went into hiding because of allegations, were you employed by then?
Wit: No
Def: And you escaped and went to various countries, Guinea, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast?
Wit: Not Ivory Coast. It was Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria.
Def: Were you working in those countries?
Wit: No
Def: And late last year, after the elections, you returned to Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes
Def: And you have not worked since 2001?
Wit: Yes
Def: And so you are desperate for money?
Wit: No
Def: So how do you survive for six years without a job?
Wit: My friends, relatives and my wife.
Def: And your three children?
Wit: I have five children.
Def: And last year, you learned that if you cooperate with the prosecution, you will receive scome money, right?
Wit: No
Def: But didn’t you learn that they will give you money?
Wit: Well, I am only knowing that now. Since I joined them, they have given me money for incentive but not to take care of my family.
Def: Were you at some point moved from your house, were you relocated?
Wit: Presently when I am here. It’s my family that is staying there.
Def: So was your family relocated to a different house in Sierra Leone?
Wit: Yes, recently, when I am here in Holland.
Def: What about before you came to Holland. Were you moved to a different location?
Wit: No
Def: Are your children now going to a private school?
Wit: They are attending the school that they have always attended.
Def: Who pays the school fees?
Wit: Before now, I used to pay with help from my wife.
Def: And now?
Wit: I am paying until I get back to Freetown.
Def: Have you received any weekly allowance before coming to Holland?
Wit: It was only when I came to Holland that my wife has been receiving allowances on my behalf
Def: Prior to coming to Holland, did you receive any incentive from WVS?
Wit: No
Def: Have you spoken to anyone in Sierra Leone suggesting that if they cooperate with the Prosecution, they will receive money?
Wit: No
Def: Where are you planning on going after here?
Pros: Objection. Irrelevance and its a security issue.
Def: You are not the only family member living in Europe, right?
Wit: Yes
Def: You have a relative in France, right?
Pros: Relevance?
Def: I am laying a foundation.
Judge: I’ll allow the question.
Def: You have a sister in France?
Wit: For security reasons, I dont want to disclose her location.
Pros: May I suggest that the Court goes into private session for this?
Def: I have no objection.
Judge: Please arrange for the Court to go into private session.
Court goes into private session for the witness to answer questions relating to his security.
3:56: Court resumes in open session.
Def: That is the end of my cross-examination.
Judge: Any re-examination?
Pros: Yes. Mr. Kargbo, I have one question to you, about the meeting with Taylor in Monrovia. When you had that meeting, who controled the diamond field of Kono?
Wit: The RUF.
Judge: Thank you Mr. Koumjian.
Judge Sebutinde: Mr. Witness, when were you reinstated into the army?
Wit: After the Lome Accord. The accord stipulated that we were to be reinstated into the army. That brought me back into the army.
Judge Sebutinde: You stated that on May 25, 1997 you were reinstated, is that right?
Wit: No, I was out of the army prior to that. The AFRC came and reinstated all of us.
Judge Sebuntinde: You said Taylor was the Godfather of the RUF. How did you know this when you were not a member of the RUF?
Wit: When we joined the RUF guys, they told us that and I saw that they only did certain things with his permission. In fact, the RUF guys gave us the contact with Taylor.
Judge Dougherty: Yesterday, you said when they asked you to join the SLPP, you said you would prefer joining the RUF. Did you mean the armed group or the party?
Wit: The party.
Judge Dougherty: When you said the Prosecution read the statements to you, what language did they do so in?
Wit: Krio
Judge Dougherty: That will be all. Any questions on matters arising from the bench?
Pros: When you said that the RUF did not do things without the permission of Taylor. How did you see that?
Wit: I saw phone numbers and how they communicated.
Pros: How did Bockarie call Taylor?
Judge: That did not come out of any question from the bench.
Pros: I’ll withdraw that. Thank you.
Judge: Any other questions or should I release the witness?
Pros: No questions except that I have some exhibits.
Judge: We’ll go through the exhibits.
Judge: Mr. Witness, that is the end of your evidence. We’ll dismiss you and wish you a safe journey home.
Wit: Thank you and God bless you all.
The witness is released.