The Hague

September 24, 2008

Clarification

Prosecutor Werner took the witness through a few parts of the transcript of the second session to clarify a few details and then had no further questions for the witness.

Cross-examination

Defense Counsel Morris Anyah began to cross-examine the witness. Anyah established that Samuel Bull arrived in The Hague on September 13, 2008 and had a few meetings with the Prosecution on the days following his arrival. The first time Bull spoke to investigators of the OTP (Office of The Prosecutor) was on November 14, 2002. On subsequent meetings he met with the OTP in Motema and in Freetown. The witness was aware that during that time trials were going on against members of the RUF and AFRC. He has not been asked to testify in those trials.

Anyah put before Samuel Bull that: A and B had been raped and his father captured and beaten on the head, all being persons close and dear to the witness; he himself had to flee for his life; his house in Motema was burned; a lot of money as much as 3 mln Leones, all his life savings, had been taken from him; his younger brother Emmanuel and his eldest son Thomas had been abducted; his uncle and niece had been killed. All of this happened because of the RUF, so the witness must have been pleased to see the ones responsible on trial. The witness agreed. When asked if he would like to see more people put on trial for the things they did in Motema, Bull confirmed.
On March 29, 2006, the day Charles Taylor was arrested, the witness was in Motema. He heard about the arrest and that it was because of things the RUF and the AFRC had done. After the arrest Bull was contacted by the OTP of this Court and invited to give evidence in this case, especially about the attacks in Fakoya Bush, Momboma and Motema. Anyah asked the witness if he, since the arrest of Charles Taylor he ever heard anyone say: “Hey, they got the man behind the RUF”, which the witness confirmed.

Other witnesses of this trial

Anyah questioned the witnesses about his acquaintance with other prosecution witnesses of this trial. Bull stated that he travelled to The Hague with five other persons, who would also testify before this Court. All six stay in the same house and have meals together. In getting to know the others, whom he met in The Hague for the first time, he is aware that two of them are policemen, but does not know their names. He did not discuss his or their testimony, but did preach the gospel to them, as he is a full time pastor.

Diamond mining in Kono

Samuel Bull testified that he became a born again Christian in 1994. Since then he worked as a power saw operator and later as a diamond miner in Kono. After the AFRC took over power in May 1997 he continued to mine diamonds in Kono and Fakoya. The AFRC forces were mining as well, but Bull never mined with or for the junta forces between May 1997 and February 1998. Anyah put before the witness that during the junta period nobody, not the RUF, not the AFRC, not ECOMOG had exclusive control over the Kono mining area to which Bull answered that during that time the Junta did have control over the Kono mining area.

The witness is shown a document, notes of his first interview with the prosecutors dated November 14, 2002. It stated: “During that time there were no control over diamond mining in Kono, the AFRC/RUF could mine anywhere without permission”. Anyah suggested that this meant that, yes indeed, the junta forces were mining, but did not prevent anyone else from doing mining as well, as is confirmed by the witness testifying that he also mined during that time period and that he never mined for the junta forces and indeed was never forced to mine for them. Anyah further put before the witness that the AFRC and RUF did not gain full control over the diamond mining in Kono until 1999. The witness denied this and stated that AFRC/RUF were always in control over the diamond mining.

Interview notes

Subsequently Defense Counsel Anyah took the witness through the notes of his various interviews with the investigators of the OTP and pointed out inconsistencies.
Anyah established that Immanuel, the brother of Bull was twice abducted by the RUF, once he was released and once he escaped, but that on neither occasion the RUF had tried to conscript him into their forces.

Kamajors

When asked if he or any of his family or relatives were Kamajors, Bull confirmed that one relative of his was a Kamajor: his real name is Ia (spelling?) and his fighting name was Turntome. He claimed not to be very acquainted with this family member.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Anyah asked if the witness, A and B, or anyone known to Bull ever appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which the witness denied.

Private session

At 4.10 p.m. Anyah asked for a short private session because he wanted to ask questions involving possible future witnesses. The Prosecution had no objections and the Court went into private session until 4.20 p.m.

Re-examination in chief

Prosecutor Alain Werner took the witness back to his first interview with the prosecution, the interview quoted by the Defense on the subject of control of diamond mining in Kono, and read the last part of the same paragraph to the witness: “During that time there were no control over diamond mining in Kono. Youths were forced by AFRC and RUF to mine.” And “Is it fair to say that only in 1999 the Junta was in control of mining? Yes. The Junta forces forced them to mine all over Kono.

MFI-1, the handwritten, dated and signed document where the witness identified A and B becomes exhibit P181.

Subsequently Presiding Judge Teresa Doherty thanked the witness for giving testimony, warned him not to discuss his evidence with possible future witnesses, wished him a safe journey back and dismissed the witness. Court is adjourned until tomorrow 9.30 a.m.