Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK973
2006-05-12 20:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

PRESS REPORTS AMERICAN ARRESTED IN SIERRA LEONE

Tags:  PREL KJUS SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0028
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0973 1322058
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADCCF278 WSC8887-695)
P 122058Z MAY 06 ZDS
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9006
INFO RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY 0613
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA PRIORITY 0562
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000973 

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C O R R E C T E D COPY (ADDING SUBJ DIST TAG)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PREL KJUS SL






SUBJECT: PRESS REPORTS AMERICAN ARRESTED IN SIERRA LEONE
FOR PHOTOGRAPHING SL SPECIAL COURT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WOLFF FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000973

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (ADDING SUBJ DIST TAG)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
TAGS: PREL KJUS SL






SUBJECT: PRESS REPORTS AMERICAN ARRESTED IN SIERRA LEONE
FOR PHOTOGRAPHING SL SPECIAL COURT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WOLFF FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D


1. (SBU) UN LEGAL OFFICE INFORMED USUN MAY 11 THAT THEY
HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS FROM THE SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT
REGISTRAR, LOVEMORE MANLO,THAT AMERICAN CITIZEN MICHAEL
CHEMIDLINE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH "CONSPIRACY TO
ENGAGE IN A PURPOSE PREJUDICIAL TO THE STATE OF SIERRA LEONE"
UNDER THE TREASON AND STATE OFFENCES ACT OF 1963. THE
SPECIAL COURT QUOTES CLARENCE ROY MACAULAY OF THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS AS A SOURCE.


2. (U) ACCORDING TO MACAULAY, THE PARTICULARS STATE THAT
BETWEEN 18 AND 29 APRIL, 2006 THE ACCUSED CONSPIRED TO
INSPECT THE ENTIRE SPECIAL COURT COMPLEX AND INSPECTED THE
COMPLEX BY WAY OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT ON 29TH APRIL HE
PHOTOGRAPHED A PROHIBITED AREA PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTERESTS
AND SAFETY OF THE STATE OF SIERRA LEONE.


3. (C) EARLIER IN THE DAY, UN LEGAL PROVIDED A COPY OF AN
INTERNAL MEMO WHICH REPORTED THAT A SGT/MR. A.M. CHEMIDLINE,
A US SERVICEMAN WHO WORKED AS A CHEF IN IRAQ, WAS DETAINED ON
APRIL 29 BY THE MONGOLIAN GUARD FORCE. CHEMIDLINE,
ACCOMPANIED BY TWO SIERRA LEONE NATIONALS, DEMOSCO KAMALA AND
FELIX ROGERS, HAD BEEN "ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY." THE REPORT
INDICATED THAT THE US DA WAS NOT SURE WHETHER CHEMIDLINE IS
STILL SERVING WITH "205 SIGNAL BR" OR WHETHER HE HAS BEEN
DISCHARGED. HE REPORTEDLY SERVED IN IRAQ UNTIL APRIL 1 AND
MET SIERRA LEONEAN CONTRACTORS THERE. CHEMIDLINE HAD IN HIS
POSSESSION A CAMERA WHICH CONTAINED "PHOTOS 360 DEGREES" OF
THE SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT (SLSC),INCLUDING MAIN SENTRY
POSITIONS, MAIN ENTRANCE POINT AND PANORAMIC OVERVIEW OF THE
SLSC TAKEN FROM SURROUNDING HILLSIDES. ACCORDING TO THE
REPORT, HIS PASSPORT HAD VISAS FOR GHANA, SIERRA LEONE AND
LIBERIA WHICH WERE ALL ISSUED IN THE US AROUND MARCH, WHEN
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR A HERNIA AT
FORT DRUM.


4. CHEMIDLINE CLAIMED THAT HE IS IN SIERRA LEONE TO START A
CHURCH CALLED, "CHURCH IN FREETOWN",
(CHURCHINFREETOWN@YAHOO.COM) WHICH HAS 10 MEMBERS, ALL MALES
AGED 18-25. THE REPORT INDICATES THAT HE PROBABLY ENTERED
SIERRA LEONE VIA GHANA BUT HAD NOT YET TRAVELED TO LIBERIA.
BOLTON