Charles Taylor to Rest in JailCharle
Published: 27 September 2013 By Abiodun Giwa
Charles Taylor (Courtesy:www.cnn.com)
The conviction of the former Liberian president and war lord, Charles Taylor, has been upheld by an appeal panel in Sierra Leone. Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in jail last year by a special court in Sierra Leone for his role in aiding rebels in the country’s civil war.
With the ruling in his appeal case, he becomes the first former president to be convicted for war crime since the world war11. He will have to rest in jail as there is no likelihood of his completing the sentence to come and live a normal life again, being already 65 years of age.
Taylor looked robust in the court room, where he sat through the hearing, wearing a suit without any show of apprehension or emotion. His conviction will send a signal to other African leaders who are standing trial in The Hague for similar crime.
Close to 50,000 people were killed in the long war in Sierra Leone; countless number of people had their arms or legs mutilated, and child soldiers gained currency. Long or short sleeve choice of mutilation became a trademark.
After the war, Taylor bolted to Nigeria, where he lived in exile before the long arms of the law caught up with him, while he was running away to evade arrest.
With the ruling in his appeal case, he becomes the first former president to be convicted for war crime since the world war11. He will have to rest in jail as there is no likelihood of his completing the sentence to come and live a normal life again, being already 65 years of age.
Taylor looked robust in the court room, where he sat through the hearing, wearing a suit without any show of apprehension or emotion. His conviction will send a signal to other African leaders who are standing trial in The Hague for similar crime.
Close to 50,000 people were killed in the long war in Sierra Leone; countless number of people had their arms or legs mutilated, and child soldiers gained currency. Long or short sleeve choice of mutilation became a trademark.
After the war, Taylor bolted to Nigeria, where he lived in exile before the long arms of the law caught up with him, while he was running away to evade arrest.
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