The Accused

Issa Hassan Sesay, the alleged Interim Leader of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, was indicted on 7 March 2003 on a 17-count indictment for crimes against humanity, violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (commonly known as war crimes), and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. (An 18th count was later added.) Sesay was arrested on 10 March and taken into the custody of the Court. At his initial appearance on 15 March at the temporary courthouse on Bonthe Island, Sesay pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Morris Kallon, aka Bilai Karim, alleged to have been a former commander of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, was indicted on 7 March 2003 on a 17-count indictment for crimes against humanity, violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (commonly known as war crimes), and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. (An 18th count was later added.) He was arrested and taken into Court custody on 10 March. At his initial appearance, which took place on 15, 17 and 21 March before Judge Benjamin M. Itoe at the temporary courthouse on Bonthe Island, Kallon pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Augustine Gbao, aka Augustine Bao, is alleged to have been a senior officer and commander of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone. He was first taken into custody on 10 March under Rule 40 of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which allows for a suspect to be detained for up to 30 days before being indicted. He was transferred to the Court's custody on 20 March. Gbao was subsequently indicted by the Prosecutor on 16 April 2003, and the indictment was approved the same day by Judge Bankole Thompson. He was charged with 17 counts of crimes against humanity, Violation of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (commonly known as war crimes), and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. (An 18th count was later added.) Gbao made his initial appearance on 25 April, where he pleaded  not guilty to all charges.

The Charges

The RUF (Sesay, Kallon, Gbao) and AFRC (Brima, Kamara, Kanu) indictees each face an 18-count indictment for 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.

*1 = Crimes Against Humanity
*2 = Violation of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (war crimes)
*3 = Other serious violation of international humanitarian law

Terrorizing the civilian population and collective punishments

1. Acts of terrorism. *2
2. Collective punishments. *2

Unlawful killings

3. Extermination *1
4. Murder *1
5. Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder *2

Sexual violence

6. Rape *1
7. Sexual slavery and any other form of sexual violence *1
8. Other inhumane act *1
9. Outrages upon personal dignity *2

Physical violence

10. Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular cruel treatment *2
11. Other inhumane acts *1

Use of child soldiers

12. Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities *3

Abductions and forced labour

13. Enslavement *1

Looting and burning

14. Pillage *2

Attacks on UNAMSIL personnel

15. Intentionally directing attacks against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission *3
16. For the unlawful killings, murder *1
17. Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder *2
18. For the abductions and holding as hostage, taking of hostages *2