Taylor loses court battle
2004-03-26 17:29
Monrovia - A court in the Liberian capital has thrown out a case brought by lawyers of former president Charles Taylor calling for the allegedly illegal searches of his property to be stopped.
Criminal Court Judge Timothy Swope on Thursday dismissed a motion by Taylor's lawyers to halt the searches of the former leader's homes in Liberia.
They were searched on March 6 for "documents, diamonds, money, arms and ammunition" at the request of the UN court in Sierra Leone, with a warrant issued by Liberian Justice Minister Kabineh Janneh.
Taylor brought a case against Janneh and Allen White, the chief investigator of the Sierra Leone war crimes court which is trying suspects in that country's brutal civil war.
With the case thrown out, White and the justice ministry have the right to continue the searches.
Taylor's lawyers have announced they will lodge an appeal with the full bench of the supreme court due to sit in October.
Taylor, whose departure from power and move into exile in Nigeria last August brought an end to 14-years of successive civil wars, is wanted by a UN tribunal in Sierra Leone for support he allegedly gave rebels there, trading arms for diamonds.
The UN Security Council has also frozen the assets of Taylor and those of his relatives and friends.