Special Court for Sierra Leone
Press and Public Affairs Office

PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2 August 2003    

Sankoh's Body Released to Family

The Special Court released the body of alleged rebel leader Foday Saybana Sankoh to members of his family on Saturday. An autopsy had been performed earlier in the day by Dr Joseph Koroma, a forensic pathologist. The death certificate states that Sankoh died of "respiratory failure due to massive pulmonary embolism."

Sankoh, who was 66 years old, had suffered a stroke in August 2002. He came into the custody of the Special Court on 10 March 2003 which transferred him to Choithram Hospital in Freetown on 29 March. He remained there, under Court custody, until his death on 29 July.

Sankoh's family is expected to gather for a funeral on Sunday.

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