Witness tells court Massaquoi only handled documentation

MONROVIA – Unlike many ex-soldiers who have appeared before two Finnish Courts either testifying for, or against Gibril Massaquoi, former commander with Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Front, (RUF), ex-soldiers have claimed Mr. Massaquoi has just gone to the frontlines.

“Witness X8,” (name withheld to protect him from reprisal), however, told the Court of Appeal of Turku, who was in Liberia for the acquittal process of Massaquoi who saw Mr. Massaquoi in Lofa.

“He was mainly into documentation,” said Witness X8. “He never made it to the front lines.”

In April 2022, the Pirkanmaa District Court acquitted Mr. Massaquoi, as well as the RUF spokesperson of aggravated rape, aggravated murder, and abduction of child soldiers. The court ruled the prosecution did not prove the allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

But the prosecution appealed the verdict to the Turku Court of Appeal, arguing that the District Court erred in its decision. The appeals court has heard testimony from more than 50 prosecution witnesses, who have accused Massaquoi of the crime.

Many of them told the court that he had committed crimes, including ordering his soldiers to burn buildings where civilians lived. Some even openly recognized him as “Angel Gabriel,” the name he allegedly used to commit crimes, especially in Waterside in Monrovia.

As he did before the district court, Mr. Massaquoi’s attorney asserted his alibi argument on appeal. They are arguing that at the time of the alleged crimes, he was in Sierra Leone, testifying to the Special Court against some former commanders of the RUF and Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia, convicted for aiding and abetting the Sierra Leonean civil war.

Speaking about his war experience, Soldier X8 told the court he fought in many areas of Lofa, including Vahun, Kamatahun and Kolahun.

“We were in Lofa in 2000, because the war between LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, one of the rebel groups that forced Taylor out of power), and Charles Taylor started in 1999, 2000 to 2002.”

The man, the prosecution witness, also claimed that he fought in the Ivory Coast under Sam Bockarie, a former commander of the RUF, who several witnesses told the District Court was killed on the orders of Mr. Taylor by Benjamin Yeaten, director at the time of the Special Security Service. , now Executive Protection Agency, EPS.

Back in Monrovia, former soldiers of the Anti-Terrorist Unit, a force loyal to Mr. Taylor, said they fought against LURD rebels at the new Waterside bridge (now the King Zulu Duma Bridge), in Vai Town, on the Freeway and in Duala. .

Also read: Liberia: Witness caught impersonating while testifying against Gibril Massaquoi

Witness X8 told the prosecutor in direct examination that he saw Mr. Massaquoi at ELWA 12 Houses Community, Paynesville. He claimed there are many former RUF rebels in Liberia who are helping government forces fight LURD. The witness said there was a lot of fighting on the Waterside Bridge.

“Civil 60,” the first witness Tuesday claimed to be friends with Mr. Massaquoi’s girlfriend. Civil 60 told the court the woman introduced Mr. Massaquoi to her as a boyfriend. He said that one day, the alleged girlfriend of Mr. Massaquoi invited him to take a trip with them to Lofa County, where the woman intended to celebrate her birthday with Mr. Massaquoi.

He said while in Voinjama, he was posted in a dormitory, where Mr. Massaquoi often left him with some soldiers. He said that he often visited the hostel.

Civilian 60 said there was a room in the dormitory, full of ammunition and Mr. Massaquoi warned them not to enter the room. But he told the court that one day, the soldier guarding the room forgot to lock it, so the woman entered the room. Unfortunately, the witness said, he was caught in the room by Mr. Massaquoi, who began to beat him serverely.

Civilian 60 said he entered the room to help his friend, but Mr. Masssaquoi pushed him away. He claimed he had a cut on one of his hands and showed the alleged scar to the court.

The witness said he and the woman managed to escape the alleged incident and left Voinjama immediately.

Mr. Massaquoi has denied all the allegations against him.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

Coverage of the appeal of Massaquoi’s release is a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West African Justice Reporting Project.