Liberia war crimes suspect held in Finland

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday arrested a Sierra Leone national and resident in Tampere on charges of murders and aggravated war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Suspect has been living permanently in Finland for more than 10 years, said a press release of NBI.

The NBI on Wednesday requested that the 51 years old man be placed on remand on suspicion of murders and aggravated war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in exceptional circumstances.

The remand hearing is scheduled to be held at the Pirkanmaa District Court on Thursday morning.

The criminal law in force in Finland at the time of the offences applies to the criminal investigation; in the old legislation the offences were referred to as aggravated warfare crimes and aggravated violations of human rights.

The suspected offences took place during the Liberian civil war in 1999–2003. At that time, the suspect held a leading position in the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a Sierra Leonean rebel army that also operated in Liberia. It is suspected that he both committed the offences himself and incited others to commit them.

“Exceptionally, the suspected serious crimes against life and health, personal liberty and physical integrity include homicide and sexual violence as well as recruitment and deployment of child soldiers,” said Detective Superintendent Thomas Elfgren from of NBI.

The criminal investigation against the suspect was opened in autumn 2018. The NBI has conducted investigations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, among other countries, and interviewed several dozen people.

“The Liberian judicial authorities have supported the criminal investigation and permitted us to collect information in Liberia. The next step is to interview the suspect and to conduct any further investigations requested by the prosecutor and the defence,” Elfgren said.