DEFENDANTS GUILTY IN RUF TRIAL

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000061 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/WCI (BDOHERTY) US MISSION USUN (MSIMONOFF) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KAWC PHUM SL SUBJECT: DEFENDANTS GUILTY IN RUF TRIAL ¶1. The final Freetown-based trial for the Special Court for Sierra Leone concluded on February 25 with a judgment against three Revolutionary United Front defendants. Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao all faced 18 charges during the five-year trial, including terrorism, collective punishment, extermination, murder, rape, sexual slavery, conscripting and/or enlisting child soldiers, and intentionally directing attacks against peacekeeping officers. Sesay and Kallon were found guilty of 16 of 18 counts, while Gbao was found guilty of 14 of 18 counts. Notably, presiding judge of Trial Chamber 1, Justice Pierre Boutet, dissented on 13 of the guilty judgments against Gbao. ¶2. Next steps in this case will include prosecution and defense motions regarding sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled, and subsequent appeals from all defendants. Post will provide further analysis septel. PERRY