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Liberia: Ex-Leader Fails to Show Up At Taylor Trial
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Concord Times (Freetown)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Alphonso Zeon
The Hague
Despite assurances that he would testify at the Special Court for Sierra Leone which subpoenaed him early this month, former Liberian president, Moses Blah failed to show up last week at the trial of his former boss Charles Taylor at The Hague.
Special Court's Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp told this reporter that he had been in touch with Mr Blah who had asked for more time because of medical considerations and his wife being out of Liberia.
" we want to make sure the situation with his security, the situation with his family and his health are well in hand before he travels," Mr Rapp said, adding that they were following what he had been saying to the press one of which was that he was willing to be a witness in the Taylor trial.
Mr Rapp quoted Mr Blah as saying that he was neither for nor against anyone but that he was going to say "the truth". The truth, Mr Rapp said, would "serve the interest of justice".
The prosecution are offering Mr Blah as a witness "to prove our case and he's given us statements in the past and because we think that his testimony will be helpful to the Prosecution", according to the chief prosecutor.
The former Liberian vice president who became president after the resignation of Mr Taylor, faces a jail term is he fails to show up in court.
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This report is courtesy of the BBC World Service Trust and Search for Common Ground.
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