The special tribunal which tried the former Liberian president found him guilty of aiding and abetting crimes including acts of terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, enslavement, pillage and enlisting children into armed forces or using them in hostilities. The following are the final words of the judgement summary published by the court:
This brings me to the verdict. I will ask the Accused, Charles Ghankay Taylor, to please stand.
Having considered all the evidence and the arguments of the parties, the Statute and the Rules, and based upon the findings as determined by the Trial Chamber in its Judgement, the Trial Chamber unanimously finds you guilty of aiding and abetting the commission of the following crimes pursuant to Article 6.1 of the Statute during the Indictment period, and planning the commission of the following crimes in the attacks on Kono and Makeni in December 1998, and in the invasion of and retreat from Freetown between December 1998 and February 1999:
Count 1: Acts of terrorism, a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II pursuant to Article 3(d) of the Statute.
Count 2: Murder, a crime against humanity pursuant to Article 2(a) of the Statute.
Count 3: Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder, a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II pursuant to Article 3(a) of the Statute.
Count 4: Rape, a crime against humanity, punishable under Article 2(g) of the Statute.
Count 5: Sexual slavery, a crime against humanity, punishable under Article 2(g) of the Statute.
Count 6: Outrages upon personal dignity, a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II pursuant to Article 3(e) of the Statute.
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Count 7: Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular cruel treatment, a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II pursuant to Article 3(a) of the Statute
Count 8: Other inhumane acts, a crime against humanity pursuant to Article 2(i) of the Statute.
Count 9: Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities, another serious violation of international humanitarian law pursuant to Article 4(c) of the Statute.
Count 10: Enslavement, a crime against humanity pursuant to Article 2 (c) of the Statute.
Count 11: Pillage, a violation of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II pursuant to Article 3(f) of the Statute.
