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MONROVIA—Two further witnesses have instructed enchantment hearings for Gibril Massaquoi, a former commander of Sierra Leone’s Revolutionary United Entrance, RUF in Monrovia that he ordered civilians, together with seven girls to be raped and burnt alive in a home, crowning per week of harrowing testimonies and allegations in opposition to him.
“Civilian 22,” Friday’s first witness, talking in his native Gbandi language via an interpreter earlier than the Turku Appeals Court docket of Finland alleged Mr Massaquoi had ordered an open shame of the ladies in Kamatahum, Lofa County.
“They tied them up, took their garments off and bare them,” mentioned Civilian 22. “He (Massaquoi) gave orders that they need to rape and kill them.”
The person claimed earlier than Turku Court docket of Appeals that earlier than the ladies have been killed, they “have been inside crying” and that he thought “they (troopers) have been raping them.”
On direct examination, Civilian 22 was sure about an alleged nickname of the mastermind of the alleged atrocities.
“There was one commander referred to as Angel Gabriel,” he mentioned.
Many prosecution witnesses have instructed the Tampare District Court docket, which acquitted Mr Massaquoi of fees of aggravated conflict crimes and aggravated crimes in opposition to humanity in April 2021, that it was one of many names Mr Massaquoi’s troopers and comrade-in-arms referred to as him by.
Civilian 22 mentioned afterwards, he and others, who have been within the city buried the ladies. He additionally alleged Mr Massaquoi ordered separate killings after his troopers had gathered a gaggle of civilians in a home.
“He mentioned your (troopers) go and kill them,” mentioned Civilian 22. “They usually put them in the home primarily based on his orders and burnt it. I used to be to not an in depth vary to see them, however I noticed the flames of fireside and heard the voices of the individuals crying within the hearth.”
The witness additionally alleged Mr Massaquoi and his troopers looted zinc from homes within the city and transported them to Sierra Leone.
“There’s a city referred to as Gbandalo (in Sierra Leone, however near Kamatahum), in case you go there, you will notice the zincs they took from Kamatahum.”
Aggravated murders, aggravated rapes and looting are amongst a litany of fees prosecutors try to show on enchantment that Mr Massaquoi dedicated.
“Civilian 40,” one other prosecution witness, accused Mr Massaquoi of the identical acts and mentioned the previous insurgent commander spoke in a well known language.
“I heard him converse solely Krio (a well-liked language in Sierra Leone),” mentioned Civilian 40.
The witnesses alleged the acts occurred between 2001 to 2002.
“Civilian 11,” Friday’s first witness couldn’t testify as a result of his testimony was closed to the general public and media.
The hearings proceed on Monday.
The protection of the enchantment of Massaquoi’s acquittal is a collaboration with New Narratives as a part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Undertaking.
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