SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT PROSECUTOR MEETS WITH

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000932 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KAWC NL PGOV PREL SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE SPECIAL COURT PROSECUTOR MEETS WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ¶1. Sierra Leone Special Court Management Committee met, October 25, with Court Prosecutor Stephen Rapp. Rapp, in the U.S. on home leave, had just come from meetings in Ottawa after addressing the Canadian Bar Association. He had also given a speech at UCLA. Rapp reviewed progress on ongoing cases and the future work plan. He discussed the Taylor trial and issues relating to witness travel and relocation. End Summary. ¶2. Rapp reported that the Court has been busy and cases are moving forward. Progress has been made in the defense phase of the RUF case. He said there are 392 witnesses who are being examined at the rate of two per day and the defense phase will probably close in March. The Charles Taylor trial is on schedule to begin January 7, 2008. The Office of the Prosecutor has started meeting with witnesses and planning for their safety and relocation. In the area of appeals, briefs have been filed in the FRC case and oral arguments will begin in mid-November, making a judgment before the end of the year possible. ¶3. Rapp raised the issue of Sierra Leone sanctions, specifically the travel ban on certain individuals. He said that the government of Sierra Leone will have to weigh in on the issue with the Security Council but that he would favor lifting the travel ban because it would facilitate the secure travel of witnesses in the Taylor case to The Hague and their subsequent relocation. Seeking individual waivers for these witnesses would require disclosing their identity. Although Johnnie Paul Koroma is on the list, a warrant has been issued for his arrest which would curtail his mobility even without sanctions. ¶4. On the issue of Taylor's hidden funds, Rapp reported that victims often raise the subject of reparations from Taylor's sizable resources. He noted that the Court could recover about $3 million, if Taylor's funds could be located. Some reports place his hidden funds at $400 million. The UN Office of Crime and Drugs as well as the World Bank are exploring ways to track the funds and both President Sirleaf of Liberia and Sierra Leone President Koroma are watching with interest. The Nigerian representative present said that her government is making efforts to penetrate the web that Taylor wove to hide his assets but that it has proven difficult to trace his accounts. ¶5. Rapp said that rumors of possible sightings of Johnnie Paul Koroma continue. Although his death was reported, it was never confirmed and Rapp said that they must either confirm Koroma's death or apprehend him. If the latter, he should be tried in Sierra Leone. This may require that a trial mechanism be maintained beyond the completion date. ¶6. Rapp said that adherence to a completion strategy by the end of 2009 maybe difficult. The Registrar and Budget offices are looking at a revision of the budget that would take the Court four to six months into 2010. The Prosecutor predicted that by that time his office would be operating with a skeletal staff. Khalilzad