Charles Taylor’s Family Debunk Claims By Special Court’s Prosecutor

The family of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, now on trial in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, has angrily reacted to media reports quoting War Crimes Court Chief Prosecutor Stephen Rapp that the former Liberian leader siphoned over US$1 billion into his private bank accounts and that he made large withdrawals from various accounts.

The New Democrat newspaper in Liberia earlier this week quoted the chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Stephen Rapp as saying that more than US$1billion passed through Taylor’s bank accounts between 1997 and 2003, when he was president of Liberia.

Mr. Rapp is further quoted as saying that the newly traced bank records and other documents show Liberian money flowing into Mr. Taylor’s accounts, as well as large cash withdrawals and transfers to foreign banks.

“The records show that he controlled enormous funds which he hid. The big question is how much of that wealth is still left?” Stephen Rapp said.

But Mr. Taylor’s family has termed the media report as “false and misleading”, saying it is a well calculated scheme by the prosecutors to gain favor with the international community and further tarnish the reputation of the former Liberian leader for their perceived agenda.

Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, the spokesman of the Taylor family, Mr. Sando Johnson claimed that the prosecutors have “embarked on a campaign of lies” to gain the support of the Liberian people and the international community.

Mr. Johnson said the former Liberian leader is completely broke and does not have bank accounts anywhere in the world.

“If President Taylor had siphoned US$1 billion into his private bank account, he would not have asked the Special Court for Sierra Leone to underwrite the services of his lawyers,” Johnson argued.

Source African Press Agency

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