Swiss court postpones Liberia war crimes trial over coronavirus
Liberia's civil wars took a terrible toll, leaving at least 250,000 people dead and the legacy of atrocities by all sides.
Keystone
Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court has postponed the long-awaited war crimes trial of former Liberian rebel leader Alieu Kosiah due to the rapid spread of Covid-19.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jc
The trial had been scheduled to take place from April 14-30 in Bellinzona, capital of Switzerland’s southern, Italian speaking canton of Ticino. It will be the first international criminal trial in a non-military Swiss court and “historic” according to Swiss group Civitas Maxima, one of the NGOs representing Liberian victims in the case.
The Federal Criminal Court hopes to reschedule the trial between June and July 2020, according to a recent press releaseExternal link from Civitas Maxima and its Liberian partner, the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP). They said the decision taken by the Swiss court was appropriate to “safeguard the health of all the trial participants, including the victims who reside abroad”, since Liberian witnesses are being called to testify in the trial.
Kosiah, a former commander of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), is charged with war crimes committed during the first Liberian civil war (1989-1996). He was arrested in Switzerland in November 2014 and has been in pre-trial detention ever since, as Swiss authorities conducted investigations.
“This is a historical case for both Liberia and Switzerland,” says Civitas Maxima director Alain Werner, one of the two lawyers representing four of the seven plaintiffs who will testify in the trial.
“This and other cases abroad will encourage victims to come forward, and hopefully encourage the Government of Liberia to establish a domestic war crimes courtExternal link,” says Hassan Bility, Director of the GJRP.
Liberia has not so far held anyone to account for serious international crimes committed during its civil wars, although there are some cases also in other European countriesExternal link under the principle of “universal jurisdiction”. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was convicted by the Special Court for Sierra LeoneExternal link for crimes committed in that neighbouring country, and is currently serving a 50-year sentence in a British jail.
More
More
Liberian rebel leader Alieu Kosiah to face Swiss trial
This content was published on
After nearly five years of investigation, the Swiss Attorney General has indicted Liberian former rebel leader Alieu Kosiah for war crimes.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
L’Oréal acquires South Korean subsidiary of Migros’ cosmetics brand
This content was published on
French cosmetics firm L'Oréal is acquiring Gowoonsesang Cosmetics, the South Korean subsidiary of the Migros-owned Mibelle group, for an undisclosed sum.
Will Switzerland seize opportunity in Sonko and Kosiah cases?
This content was published on
Human rights NGOs question the political will of Switzerland to prosecute former Gambian minister Ousman Sonko and former Liberian rebel Alieu Kosiah.
Why Switzerland’s war crimes office is dragging its feet
This content was published on
After seven years, Switzerland’s war crimes office still has not completed any cases, while two people wait in detention. What’s behind the inaction?
Swiss court drops massacre charge against former Liberian rebel leader
This content was published on
The former Liberian rebel leader Alieu Kosiah has been cleared of involvement in a massacre, but he remains in detention in Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.