Liberia Seeks Technical Support from S\Leone’s Judiciary
In the absence of His Lordship the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Jamesina E.L. King, has welcomed a delegation from Liberia on the proposed establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court for Liberia.
Receiving the delegation, Justice King described the initiative as laudable and assured the team that the Judiciary of Sierra Leone is ready to share its expertise and experience to support the process. She, however, cautioned that justice is costly everywhere and that adequate resources and commitment would be required to successfully establish and operate such a court.
Sharing Sierra Leone’s experience, she noted that Sierra Leone and Liberia share a similar history and were both affected by brutal civil wars. She recalled that following an agreement between Sierra Leone Government and the United Nations, the Special Court for Sierra Leone was established to prosecute persons who bore the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed during the conflict.
She said the Special Court was successful in bringing several accused persons to justice, with a number of those indicted subsequently convicted. Some of the convicted persons continue to serve their sentences outside Sierra Leone due to security considerations associated with the trials.
Justice King stated that the Special Court for Sierra Leone was internationally driven and encouraged the Liberian delegation to consider an approach that is owned and driven by Liberians themselves. She stressed that, ultimately, peace and justice must prevail.
On economic crimes, Justice King highlighted Sierra Leone’s efforts to strengthen the fight against corruption and other economic offences. She cited the establishment of specialised courts, including the Anti-Corruption Court, where trained and experienced judges are assigned to hear matters brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
She explained that prior to the enactment of the relevant legislation, corruption-related cases were filed through the Office of the Attorney-General, but that the establishment of specialised mechanisms has provided a more effective and efficient approach to addressing corruption-related offences.
Justice King assured the delegation that the Honourable Chief Justice Komba Kamanda remains willing and ready to share his support, expertise and experience with Liberia, which he considers a valued and worthy collaborator.
Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice John Bosco Allieu, spoke about the importance of healing and accountability following conflict. He observed that, although the war has ended, the lives lost and the suffering caused by the atrocities can never be fully restored.
“Many people were maimed and disabled as a result of the war,” Justice Allieu said.
In addition, High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Isata Susan Sellu Tucker, encouraged the delegation to undertake a follow-up visit and reach out to other institutions to broaden their understanding and learn from their experiences.
Other statements were made by members of the Liberian delegation, including the Head of the Office of War Crimes, Rev. Amnimadab K. John. He expressed appreciation for the engagement, noting that religious leaders had come together to help pioneer the initiative and were grateful for the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences with Sierra Leone.
The engagement forms part of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing on transitional justice, accountability and the prosecution of war and economic crimes.
