Special Court for Sierra Leone
Press and Public Affairs Office

PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 6 November 2002    

More Sierra Leoneans in Prosecutor's Office than Any Other Nationality

At a meeting with the Sierra Leone Bar Association's general membership yesterday, the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, David M. Crane, announced that he has filled almost all positions in his office. He said, "my office is fully operational."

"We have recruited some of the best talent from Sierra Leone and the rest of the world to fulfill our mandate." His office is charged with investigating and prosecuting those who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed in Sierra Leone during the country's decade-long civil war.

Several of the lawyers employed by the Office of the Prosecutor are members of the Sierra Leone Bar Association. Commending the bar association, Mr. Crane said, "We selected the most qualified person for each position. We chose on merit and merit alone. Sierra Leoneans proved to be the best candidates for many positions."

The office has more Sierra Leoneans than any other nationality. Others include individuals from Australia, Canada, Ghana, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe.

According to a fact sheet circulated at the meeting:

• The Office of the Prosecutor has 45 professional positions, including prosecutors, investigators and translators. By the end of the month, all positions will be filled.
• Of the professional positions, there are ten for trial and appellate attorneys. Nine of these ten positions have been filled. Sierra Leonean lawyers have filled four of the nine positions, including half of the senior positions. A fifth position is filled by a Sierra Leonean lawyer born abroad, who graduated from Annie Walsh Memorial School.
• An additional Sierra Leonean lawyer was hired as one of two Human Rights Advisors to the Prosecutor.

There are vacancies in other sections of the Court, including for defense counsel, Judge's chambers and the Registry.

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