Sam Bockarie Indictment - Special Court for Sierra Leone

THE SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE

CASE NO. SCSL – 03 – I

THE PROSECUTOR

Against

SAM BOCKARIE also known as MOSQUITO
also known as MASKITA

INDICTMENT

The Prosecutor, Special Court for Sierra Leone, under Article 15 of the Statute of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (the Statute) charges:

SAM BOCKARIE also known as (aka) MOSQUITO
aka MASKITA

with CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, VIOLATIONS OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II and OTHER SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, in violation of Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Statute as set forth below:

THE ACCUSED

1. SAM BOCKARIE aka MOSQUITO aka MASKITA, (the ACCUSED) was born 10 February 1964 at Koidu, Kono District, Republic of Sierra Leone.

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

2. At all times relevant to this Indictment, a state of armed conflict existed within Sierra Leone. For the purposes of this Indictment, organized armed factions involved in this conflict included the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the Civil Defence Forces (CDF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).

3. A nexus existed between the armed conflict and all acts or omissions charged herein as Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II and as Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law.

4. The organized armed group that became known as the RUF, led by FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH aka POPAY aka PAPA aka PA, was founded about 1988 or 1989 in Libya. The RUF, under the leadership of FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, began organized armed operations in Sierra Leone in March 1991. During the ensuing armed conflict, the RUF forces were also referred to as "RUF", "rebels" and "People's Army".

5. The CDF was comprised of Sierra Leonean traditional hunters, including the Kamajors, Gbethis, Kapras, Tamaboros and Donsos. The CDF fought against the RUF and AFRC.

6. On 30 November 1996, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH and Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, signed a peace agreement which brought a temporary cessation to active hostilities. Thereafter, the active hostilities recommenced.

7. The AFRC was founded by members of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone who seized power from the elected government of the Republic of Sierra Leone via a coup d'état on 25 May 1997. Soldiers of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) comprised the majority of the AFRC membership. On that date JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA aka JPK became the leader and Chairman of the AFRC. The AFRC forces were also referred to as "Junta", "soldiers", "SLA", and "ex-SLA".

8. Shortly after the AFRC seized power, at the invitation of JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA, and upon the order of FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, leader of the RUF, the RUF joined with the AFRC. The AFRC and RUF acted jointly thereafter. The AFRC/RUF Junta forces (Junta) were also referred to as "Junta", "rebels", "soldiers", "SLA", "ex-SLA" and "People's Army".

9. After the 25 May 1997 coup d'état, a governing body, the Supreme Council, was created within the Junta. The governing body included leaders of both the AFRC and RUF.

10. The Junta was forced from power by forces acting on behalf of the ousted government of President Kabbah about 14 February 1998. President Kabbah's government returned in March 1998. After the Junta was removed from power the AFRC/RUF alliance continued.

11. On 7 July 1999, in Lomé, Togo, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH and Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, signed a peace agreement. However, active hostilities continued.

12. The ACCUSED and all members of the organized armed factions engaged in fighting within Sierra Leone were required to abide by International Humanitarian Law and the laws and customs governing the conduct of armed conflicts, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Additional Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions, to which the Republic of Sierra Leone acceded on 21 October 1986.

13. All offences alleged herein were committed within the territory of Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996.

14. All acts and omissions charged herein as Crimes Against Humanity were committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population of Sierra Leone.

15. The words civilian or civilian population used in this Indictment refer to persons who took no active part in the hostilities, or who were no longer taking an active part in the hostilities.

INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

16. Paragraphs 1 through 15 are incorporated by reference.

17. At all times relevant to this Indictment, SAM BOCKARIE was a senior commander in, or otherwise affiliated with, the RUF, Junta and AFRC/RUF forces.

18. The ACCUSED joined the RUF in 1991 in Liberia. Between 1992 and about April 1997, the ACCUSED held the position of Battle Group commander within the RUF. In that position, the ACCUSED was subordinate only to the RUF Battle Field Commander, MOHAMMED TARAWALLIE aka ZINO, and the RUF leader, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH.

19. FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH was incarcerated and subjected to restrictions on his movement in Nigeria and in Sierra Leone from about March 1997 to about April 1999. During this period, by order of FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, the ACCUSED directed all RUF operations in Sierra Leone. Also during this time, by virtue of the authority given him by FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, the ACCUSED, worked directly and in concert with CHARLES TAYLOR aka CHARLES GHANKAY MACARTHUR DAPKPANA TAYLOR. In addition, by order of or with the acquiescence of FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, the ACCUSED also received guidance and direction from CHARLES GHANKAY TAYLOR.

20. About April 1997, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH appointed the ACCUSED Battle Field Commander of the RUF, a position the ACCUSED held until about December 1999. As Battlefield Commander, the ACCUSED was subordinate in command only to the leader of the RUF, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, and the leader of the AFRC, JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA.

21. Shortly after JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA invited the RUF to join with the AFRC, FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH instructed the ACCUSED that he and all members of the RUF were to take all orders from JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA.

22. During the Junta regime, the ACCUSED served as a member of the Junta governing body. After the Junta was forced from power about mid February 1998, the ACCUSED continued as a senior officer in the AFRC/RUF forces until about December 1999. During this time JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA appointed the ACCUSED Chief of Defence Staff.

23. In the positions referred to in paragraphs17 through 22, SAM BOCKARIE, individually or in concert with FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, ISSA HASSAN SESAY aka ISSA SESAY, MORRIS KALLON aka BILAI KARIM, JOHNNY PAUL KOROMA, ALEX TAMBA BRIMA aka TAMBA ALEX BRIMA aka GULLIT and other superiors in the RUF, Junta and AFRC/RUF forces, exercised authority, command and control over all subordinate members of the RUF, Junta and AFRC/RUF forces.

24. At all times relevant to this Indictment, the ACCUSED, by virtue of his position within, and continued affiliation with, the RUF and the authority given him by FODAY SAYBANA SANKOH, acted in concert with CHARLES GHANKAY TAYLOR.

25. The RUF, including the ACCUSED, and the AFRC shared a common plan, purpose or design (joint criminal enterprise) which was to take any actions necessary to gain and exercise political power and control over the territory of Sierra Leone, in particular the diamond mining areas. The natural resources of Sierra Leone, in particular the diamonds, were to be provided to persons outside Sierra Leone in return for assistance in carrying out the joint criminal enterprise.

26. The joint criminal enterprise included gaining and exercising control over the population of Sierra Leone in order to prevent or minimize resistance to their geographic control, and to use members of the population to provide support to the members of the joint criminal enterprise. The crimes alleged in this Indictment, including unlawful killings, abductions, forced labour, physical and sexual violence, use of child soldiers, looting and burning of civilian structures, were either actions within the joint criminal enterprise or were a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the joint criminal enterprise.

27. After about December 1999, the ACCUSED continued to act in furtherance of the joint criminal enterprise.

28. SAM BOCKARIE, by his acts or omissions, is individually criminally responsible pursuant to Article 6.1. of the Statute for the crimes referred to in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Statute as alleged in this Indictment, which crimes the ACCUSED planned, instigated, ordered, committed or in whose planning, preparation or execution the ACCUSED otherwise aided and abetted, or which crimes were within a joint criminal enterprise in which the ACCUSED participated or were a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the joint criminal enterprise in which the ACCUSED participated.

29. In addition, or alternatively, pursuant to Article 6.3. of the Statute, SAM BOCKARIE, while holding positions of superior responsibility and exercising command and control over his subordinates, is individually criminally responsible for the crimes referred to in Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Statute. The ACCUSED is responsible for the criminal acts of his subordinates in that he knew or had reason to know that the subordinate was about to commit such acts or had done so and the ACCUSED failed to take the necessary and reasonable measures to prevent such acts or to punish the perpetrators thereof.

CHARGES

30. Paragraphs 16 through 29 are incorporated by reference.

31. At all times relevant to this Indictment, members of the RUF, AFRC, Junta and/or AFRC/RUF forces (AFRC/RUF), subordinate to and/or acting in concert with SAM BOCKARIE, conducted armed attacks throughout the territory of the Republic of Sierra Leone, including, but not limited, to Bo, Kono, Kenema, Bombali and Kailahun Districts and Freetown. Targets of the armed attacks included civilians and humanitarian assistance personnel and peacekeepers assigned to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), which had been created by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1270 (1999).

32. These attacks were carried out primarily to terrorize the civilian population, but also were used to punish the population for failing to provide sufficient support to the AFRC/RUF, or for allegedly providing support to the Kabbah government or to pro-government forces. The attacks included unlawful killings, physical and sexual violence against civilian men, women and children, abductions and looting and destruction of civilian property. Many civilians saw these crimes committed; others returned to their homes or places of refuge to find the results of these crimes - dead bodies, mutilated victims and looted and burnt property.

33. As part of the campaign of terror and punishment the AFRC/RUF routinely captured and abducted members of the civilian population. Captured women and girls were raped; many of them were abducted and used as sex slaves and as forced labour. Some of these women and girls were held captive for years. Men and boys who were abducted were also used as forced labour; some of them were also held captive for years. Many abducted boys and girls were given combat training and used in active fighting. AFRC/RUF also physically mutilated men, women and children, including amputating their hands or feet and carving "AFRC" and "RUF" on their bodies.

COUNTS 1 - 2: TERRORIZING THE CIVILIAN POPULATION AND COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENTS

34. Members of the AFRC/RUF subordinate to and/or acting in concert with SAM BOCKARIE committed the crimes set forth below in paragraphs 35 through 60 and charged in Counts 3 through 13, as part of a campaign to terrorize the civilian population of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and did terrorize that population. The AFRC/RUF also committed the crimes to punish the civilian population for allegedly supporting the elected government of President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and factions aligned with that government, or for failing to provide sufficient support to the AFRC/RUF.

By his acts or omissions in relation, but not limited to these events, SAM BOCKARIE, pursuant to Article 6.1. and, or alternatively, Article 6.3. of the Statute, is individually criminally responsible for the crimes alleged below:

Count 1: Acts of Terrorism, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.d. of the Statute;

And:

Count 2: Collective Punishments, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.b. of the Statute.

COUNTS 3 - 5: UNLAWFUL KILLINGS

35. Victims were routinely shot, hacked to death and burned to death. Unlawful killings included, but were not limited to, the following:

Bo District

36. Between 1 June 1997 and 30 June 1997, AFRC/RUF attacked Tikonko, Telu, Sembehun, Gerihun and Mamboma, unlawfully killing an unknown number of civilians;

Kenema District

37. Between about 25 May 1997 and about 19 February 1998, in locations including Kenema town, members of AFRC/RUF unlawfully killed an unknown number of civilians;

Kono District

38. About mid February 1998, AFRC/RUF fleeing from Freetown arrived in Kono District. Between about 14 February 1998 and 30 June 1998, members of AFRC/RUF unlawfully killed several hundred civilians in various locations in Kono District, including Koidu, Tombodu, Foindu, Willifeh, Mortema and Biaya;

Bombali District

39. Between about 1 May 1998 and 31 July 1998, in locations including Karina, members of AFRC/RUF unlawfully killed an unknown number of civilians;

Freetown

40. Between 6 January 1999 and 31 January 1999, AFRC/RUF conducted armed attacks throughout the city of Freetown. These attacks included large scale unlawful killings of civilian men, women and children at locations throughout the city, including the State House, Parliament building, Connaught Hospital, and the Kissy, Fourah Bay, Upgun, Calaba Town and Tower Hill areas of the city.

Count 3: Extermination, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.b. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 4: Murder, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.a. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 5: Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.a. of the Statute.

COUNTS 6 - 8: SEXUAL VIOLENCE

41. Widespread sexual violence committed against civilian women and girls included brutal rapes, often by multiple rapists. Acts of sexual violence included, but were not limited to, the following:

Kono District

42. Between about 14 February 1998 and 30 June 1998, members of AFRC/RUF raped hundreds of women and girls at various locations throughout the District, including Koidu, Tombodu, Kissi-town (or Kissi Town), Foendor (or Foendu), Tomendeh, Fokoiya, Wondedu and AFRC/RUF camps such as "Superman camp" and Kissi-town (or Kissi Town) camp. An unknown number of women and girls were abducted from various locations within the District and used as sex slaves;

Bombali District

43. Between about 1 May 1998 and 31 July 1998, members of AFRC/RUF raped an unknown number of women and girls in locations such as Mandaha. In addition, an unknown number of abducted women and girls were used as sex slaves;

Kailahun District

44. At all times relevant to this Indictment, an unknown number of women and girls in various locations in the District were subjected to sexual violence. Many of these victims were captured in other areas of the Republic of Sierra Leone, brought to AFRC/RUF camps in the District, and used as sex slaves;

Freetown

45. Between 6 January 1999 and 31 January 1999, members of AFRC/RUF raped hundreds of women and girls throughout the Freetown area, and abducted hundreds of women and girls and used them as sex slaves.

Count 6: Rape, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.g. of the Statute;

And:

Count 7: Sexual slavery and any other form of sexual violence, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.g. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 8: Outrages upon personal dignity, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.e. of the Statute.

COUNTS 9 - 10: PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

46. Widespread physical violence, including mutilations, was committed against civilians. Victims were often brought to a central location where mutilations were carried out. These acts of physical violence included, but were not limited to, the following:

Kono District

47. Between about 14 February 1998 and 30 June 1998, AFRC/RUF mutilated an unknown number of civilians in various locations in the District, including Tombodu, Kaima (or Kayima) and Wondedu. The mutilations included cutting off limbs and carving "AFRC" and "RUF" on the bodies of the civilians;

Freetown

48. Between 6 January 1999 and 31 January 1999, AFRC/RUF mutilated an unknown number of civilian men, women and children in various areas of Freetown, including the northern and eastern areas of the city, and the Kissy area, including the Kissy mental hospital. The mutilations included cutting off limbs.

Count 9: Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular cruel treatment, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.a. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 10: Other inhumane acts, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.i. of the Statute.

COUNT 11: USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

49. At all times relevant to this Indictment, throughout the Republic of Sierra Leone, AFRC/RUF routinely conscripted, enlisted and/or used boys and girls under the age of 15 to participate in active hostilities. Many of these children were first abducted, then trained in AFRC/RUF camps in various locations throughout the country, and thereafter used as fighters.

Count 11: Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities, an OTHER SERIOUS VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, punishable under Article 4.c. of the Statute.

COUNT 12: ABDUCTIONS AND FORCED LABOUR

50. At all times relevant to this Indictment, AFRC/RUF engaged in widespread and large scale abductions of civilians and use of civilians as forced labour. Forced labour included domestic labour and use as diamond miners. The abductions and forced labour included, but were not limited to, the following:

Kenema District

51. Between about 1 August 1997 and about 31 January 1998, AFRC/RUF forced an unknown number of civilians living in the District to mine for diamonds at Cyborg Pit in Tongo Field;

Kono District

52. Between about 14 February 1998 and 30 June 1998, AFRC/RUF forces abducted hundreds of civilian men, women and children, and took them to various locations outside the District, or to locations within the District such as AFRC/RUF camps, Tombodu, Koidu, Wondedu, Tomendeh. At these locations the civilians were used as forced labour, including domestic labour and as diamond miners in the Tombodu area;

Bombali District

53. Between about 1 May 1998 and 31 July 1998, in Bombali District, AFRC/RUF abducted an unknown number of civilians and used them as forced labour;

Kailahun District

54. At all times relevant to this Indictment, captured civilian men, women and children were brought to various locations within the District and used as forced labour;

Freetown

55. Between 6 January 1999 and 31 January 1999, in particular as the AFRC/RUF were being driven out of Freetown, the AFRC/RUF abducted hundreds of civilians, including a large number of children, from various areas within Freetown, including Peacock Farm and Calaba Town. These abducted civilians were used as forced labour.

Count 12: Enslavement, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.c. of the Statute.

COUNT 13: LOOTING AND BURNING

56. At all times relevant to this Indictment, AFRC/RUF engaged in widespread unlawful taking and destruction by burning of civilian property. This looting and burning included, but was not limited to, the following:

Bo District

57. Between 1 June 1997 and 30 June 1997, AFRC/RUF forces looted and burned an unknown number of civilian houses in Telu, Sembehun, Mamboma and Tikonko;

Kono District

58. Between about 14 February 1998 and 30 June 1998, AFRC/RUF engaged in widespread looting and burning in various locations in the District, including Tombodu, Foindu and Yardu Sando, where virtually every home in the village was looted and burned;

Bombali District

59. Between 1 March 1998 and 30 June 1998, AFRC/RUF forces burned an unknown number of civilian buildings in locations such as Karina;

Freetown

60. Between 6 January 1999 and 31 January 1999, AFRC/RUF forces engaged in widespread looting and burning throughout Freetown. The majority of houses that were destroyed were in the areas of Kissy and eastern Freetown; other locations included the Fourah Bay, Upgun, State House and Pademba Road areas of the city.

Count 13: Pillage, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.f. of the Statute.

COUNTS 14 - 17: ATTACKS ON UNAMSIL PERSONNEL

61. Between about 15 April 2000 and about 15 September 2000, AFRC/RUF engaged in widespread attacks against UNAMSIL peacekeepers and humanitarian assistance workers within the Republic of Sierra Leone, including, but not limited to locations within Bombali, Kailahun, Kambia, Port Loko, and Kono Districts. These attacks included unlawful killing of UNAMSIL peacekeepers, and abducting hundreds of peacekeepers and humanitarian assistance workers who were then held hostage.

Count 14: Intentionally directing attacks against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission, an OTHER SERIOUS VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, punishable under Article 4.b. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 15: For the unlawful killings, Murder, a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY, punishable under Article 2.a. of the Statute;

In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 16: Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.a. of the Statute;
In addition, or in the alternative:

Count 17: For the abductions and holding as hostage, Taking of hostages, a VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 3 COMMON TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL II, punishable under Article 3.c. of the Statute.

Dated this 3rd day of March 2003
Freetown, Sierra Leone

______________________
David M. Crane
The Prosecutor