UNITED STATES 9 January 2009 US court sentences son of ex-Liberian president

In January a federal court in Miami sentences the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Charles "Chuckie" Taylor Jr., also known as Roy M. Belfast Jr. and Charles McArthur Emmanuel, was convicted of torture, firearms and conspiracy charges on Oct 31. It was the first case brought under a 1994 United States law that allows prosecution for torture and atrocities committed overseas. He faces life in prison. His father faces trial on Liberian war crimes before a United Nations tribunal in The Hague.

Prosecutors said Taylor Jr. led a violent security force in Liberia while his father served as president of the African nation. The elite anti-terrorist unit initially protected the country's leaders and other dignitaries. According to trial testimony, the squad later turned its energy toward atrocities and directing subordinates to torture victims using hot irons, guns, knives and electrical devices from 1999 to 2002.

Taylor, who was born in Boston, had been in custody since late 2006, when he pleaded guilty in a separate case of passport fraud.

The charges against his father, one of Africa's most infamous war lords, include war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nov/08

RELATED READING:

Jurors in U.S. Convict Son Of Ex-Liberian President Taylor (WP 30 Oct 2008)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/30/AR2008103004700.html