Special Court for

Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone, or the "Special Court" (SCSL), also called
the Sierra Leone Tribunal, is a judicial body set up by the Government of
Sierra Leone and the United Nations[2] to "prosecute persons who bear the
greatest responsibility for serious violations of international humanitarian
law and Sierra Leonean law" committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November
1996 and during the Sierra Leone Civil War. The court's working language is
English. The court lists offices in Freetown, The Hague, and New York City.
On 26 April 2012, former Liberian President Charles Taylor became the first
African head of state to be convicted for his part in war crimes.

ORIGIN
On 12 June 2000, Sierra Leone's President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah wrote a letter
to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan asking the international
community to try those responsible for crimes during the conflict. On 10
August 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution
1315 requesting the Secretary-General to start negotiations with the Sierra
Leonean government to create a Special Court.
On 16 January 2002, the UN and the government of Sierra Leone signed an
agreement establishing the court. A contract was awarded toSierra
Construction Systems, the largest construction company in Sierra Leone, to
construct the building that would house the court. The first staff members
arrived in Freetown in July 200
On 10 March 2004 the new courthouse building of the Special Court for
Sierra Leone was officially opened, before an audience of national and
international dignitaries.
As of April 2012, over 40 states had contributed funds for the court's work,
with the most notable African contributor being Nigeria. In 2004, 2011 and
2012, the SCSL received funding from subventions from the United Nations.

JURISDICTION
The SCSL had the jurisdiction to try any persons who committed crimes
against humanity against civilians that included: murder; extermination;
enslavement; deportation; imprisonment; torture; rape, sexual slavery,
forced prostitution or any other form of sexual violence; persecution on the
basis of politics, race, ethnicity or religion; and other "inhumane acts." In
addition, the court would have jurisdiction to prosecute those who violated
the Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as Sierra Leone's Prevention of
Cruelty to Children Act, 1926 for the abuse of girls and Malicious Damage Act
1861. However, the court does not have jurisdiction over those under the
age of 15. Further, it was superior to any court of Sierra Leone and could take
precedence in cases of possible conflicting jurisdiction. Previous amnesties
contrary to the remit of the court would be invalid.

PUNISHMENT
All sentences should be carried out within Sierra Leone, unless there was no
capacity to deal with the accused, at which point any states pursuant to
the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia who have acceded a willingness to host
the accused for the tenure of their sentence can hold the prisoner.
Enforcement would be carried out by the court.
Commuting sentences would be up to the state in consultation with the
court.

STRUCTURE
The Special Court consists of three institutions: the Registry, the Prosecutor,
the Chambers (for trials and appeals). The Registry is responsible for the
overall management of the court.
Robin Vincent was the first registrar. On 22 February 2010, the SCSL
announced the appointment of a new registrar, Binta Mansaray. Mansaray
had previously served as the deputy registrar and as head of the court's
Outreach Programme. She is the first Sierra Leonean to hold the post of
Registrar.
The current prosecutor, Brenda Hollis, previously the principal trial attorney
in the Charles Taylor case, was appointed by the UNSG and took up her office
in February 2010.The prosecutor and her team investigate crimes, gather
evidence and submit indictments to the judges. The Deputy Prosecutor is
Joseph Kamara, a Sierra Leonean, nominated by that government and
appointed by the Secretary General. Kamara took up his post on 15 August
2008.

CHAMBERS
The statute of the court indicated eight to eleven judges. Three would serve
in the trial chamber (of which one would be appointed by the Sierra Leonean
government and two by the UN secretary-general) and five would serve in
the appeals chamber (of which two would be appointed by the Sierra
Leonean government and three by the UN secretary-general).
There are currently twelve judges, of which seven are Trial Judges (five UN
appointedincluding one alternateand two nominated by the Sierra Leone
government). The remaining five are Appeals Judges, three of whom were
appointed by the UN and two nominated by the Sierra Leone government.
Judges are appointed for a term of three years. They can be re-appointed.

INDICTEES
The Statute of the Special Court for Sierra Leone outlines four different types
of crimes with which the Court can charge individuals. They are crimes
against humanity, violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva
Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (war crimes), other serious
violations of international humanitarian law, and crimes under Sierra
Leonean law. If found guilty, sentencing could include prison terms or have
their property confiscated. The SCSL, as with all other tribunals established
by the United Nations, does not have the power to impose the death penalty.
Thus far, 13 individuals have been indicted on charges of committing crimes
against humanity, war crimes, and other violations of international
humanitarian law. No individuals have been charged with crimes under Sierra
Leonean law.
A total of 22 people have been indicted in the SCSL. Proceedings against 21
people have been completed: eight are serving their sentences, one died
while serving his sentence, seven have finished their sentences, two have
been acquitted, and three have died prior to the conclusion of the
proceedings against them. Proceedings against one person, Johnny Paul
Koroma, are ongoing; he is a fugitive, although he is believed to be
deceased.