The three were arrested exactly six years ago on 18 counts for crimes against humanity and violations of aspects of the Geneva Conventions as well as other serious violations of international humanitarian law - attacks on UN personnel, unlawful killing, rape, acts of terrorism, use of child soldier, abduction of hostage and forced marriage among others.

In a sentencing judgment which was read at the court facilities in Freetown, Canadian Presiding Judge Pierre Boutet said the trial chamber of the court took several mitigating factors advanced by the defense. “But in view of the gravity of the crimes, their impact was limited” adding that the chamber noted that the crimes for which the three have been convicted “were committed upon a massive scale across several district of Sierra Leone.” The judge said: “The impact of all these crimes upon the Sierra Leonean society has been enormous.”

Judge Boutet said the trial chamber had also given consideration to the nature and physical impact of the crimes including their scale of brutality noting specifically instances were “civilians had been shot, killed, beaten to death, burned alive, hacked to death, raped, mutilated and enslaved.”

Appeal

Issa Hassan Sesay first accused was sentenced to 52 years imprisonment, Morris Kallon second accused was given 40 and third accused Augustine Gbao had 25 years. It is expected that the three will be pleading at the appeals chamber at a later date. Special Court sources say the three will be serving their jail term possibly in Rwanda.

The Special Court Prosecutor said at a hurriedly arranged news conference after the trial in Freetown that “these sentences recognize the gravity of the terrible atrocities for which these men have been held responsible. Most importantly they honor the victims, the thousands of men, women and children of Sierra Leone, who suffered because of the act and decisions of these individuals.”

The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up by an agreement between the government for Sierra Leone and the UN to try those that bear that greatest responsibility in the Sierra Leone civil war after the 30th November Lome Peace Accord. The court has tried and sentenced all its inductees in Sierra Leone with former Liberian President Charles Taylor who is also standing trial in The Hague remain the only accused presently on trial. The court is yet to ascertain whether the last accused Major Jonny Paul Koroma is dead or alive to locate his whereabouts.