Former Liberian president Taylor sentenced to 50 years
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 May 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Former Liberian president Taylor sentenced to 50 years, 30 May 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4fcf5f34c.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 30, 2012
A UN-backed court has sentenced former Liberian President Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison following his conviction for war crimes in connection with the conflict in neighboring Sierra Leone.
The Special Court for Sierra Leone found Taylor guilty last month on 11 charges of aiding and abetting rebels who went on a bloody rampage during the decade-long Sierra Leone war that ended in 2002 with more than 50,000 dead.
Presiding Judge Richard Lussick said Taylor's crimes were of the "utmost gravity in terms of scale and brutality."
Taylor, who denies wrongdoing, is expected to appeal.
The 64-year-old warlord-turned-president is the first former head of state convicted by an international war crimes court since World War II.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
