Awaiting appeal judgement, current appeal proceedings, and appeal hearings announcement: Alieu Kosiah, Gibril Massaquoi, and Kunti Kamara cases. Bellinzona, Switzerland – The appeal proceedings of the case of Alieu Kosiah, a former United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) commander, took place before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court (FCC) from January 11 to February 3, 2023. Mr. Kosiah, who […]
One-day judges and mass crimes OPINION. The oral proceedings of French trials surprised our columnist Alain Werner, director of Civitas Maxima, during the trial of Liberian warlord Kunti Kamara, which was just held in Paris. Appearing before a French “Cour d’assises” is a fascinating dive into the principle of orality, with a court that includes both […]
Kunti Kamara: former ULIMO Commander Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Crimes Against Humanity and Torture Paris, France: Today, the Paris ‘Cour d’assises’, composed of three judges and six jurors, rendered a guilty verdict against Mr. Kunti Kamara, of Liberian and Dutch nationality, for complicity in crimes against humanity, and commission of simple and aggravated acts of […]
Is it necessary to deny everything if one is accused of international crimes? OPINION. They are accused – and convicted – of war crimes and crimes against humanity in West Africa, but do not recognize them, even partially, explains lawyer Alain Werner. Unless their lawyer, like François Roux, accompanies them on the path of asking […]
Appeal in Alieu Kosiah Case and Upcoming Trial of Kunti K. in Paris The case of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for his role in the First Liberian civil war, will go in appeal in January 2023. The Appeal proceedings in front of the Swiss Federal […]
Martina Johnson was allegedly involved in mutilations and mass killings during the first Liberian Civil War. Thirty years later, Johnson has yet to stand trial. In October 1992, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) forced hundreds of mostly intoxicated child soldiers to attack Liberia’s Capital Monrovia. They were part of “Operation Octopus”, a four-month-long […]
Liberian Plaintiffs Make Swiss and Liberian Legal History Bellinzona, Switzerland – Seven Liberian plaintiffs have made legal history, both in Switzerland and Liberia. They persisted in their quest for justice for over seven years, despite the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2015 and the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2021. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court today issued a landmark verdict […]
Momentum for Justice in Liberia On Wednesday April 7, 2021, a Finnish court concluded the Gibril Massaquoi case hearings in Monrovia, Liberia, which began on February 23. 21 days of hearings, during which 55 witnesses were heard and interrogated by Finnish prosecutors and defense lawyers. Gibril Massaquoi, former RUF (Revolutionary United Front) spokesman and commander, has been charged […]
Liberian history in the making: groundbreaking decision regarding Gibril Massaquoi’s trial An international war crimes trial has commenced in Finland today, in the Pirkanmaa District Court, concerning atrocity crimes allegedly committed and incited by Gibril Massaquoi in far-away Liberia. Unlike most war crimes trials in front of domestic courts, which are de-facto very distant from the time […]
Press Release – 21 August 2020 New dates set for Alieu Kosiah Trial in 2020 Today, the Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that new dates have been set for the trial of Alieu Kosiah, former United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) commander. After being postponed twice due to the spread of COVID-19, the […]
