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The Turku Court of Appeal has confirmed the acquittal of Gibril Massaquoi, the former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) commander and spokesman, on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture, and murder related to Liberia’s second civil war (1999-2003).
The Appeals Court upheld the decision of the Tampere District Court, asserting that the application of the “beyond reasonable doubt” standard was not in error. While acknowledging the occurrence of crimes and events through witness testimonies, the court found insufficient evidence linking Gibril Massaquoi to the alleged acts, leading to the acquittal on all charges.
The appeal proceedings, spanning from January 2023 to September 2023, included testimony from 100 individuals over 60 days. Most hearings took place in Monrovia, Liberia, continuing the approach adopted by the Tampere District Court in 2021.
A noteworthy aspect of the case involved Hassan Bility, director of Civitas Maxima and witness for the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP). Mr. Bility, having testified in Charles Taylor’s trial in 2009, had identified Gibril Massaquoi as one of his torturers during detention in 2002. Despite acknowledging Mr. Bility’s torture during the war, the court did not deem his testimony sufficient to implicate Massaquoi in the alleged acts.
The court rejected attempts to discredit Mr. Bility, emphasizing the lack of credibility in a defense witness who claimed he engaged in criminal conduct. This case adds to the precedent of Finnish courts conducting hearings abroad for international crimes, contributing to the evolving landscape of universal jurisdiction.
While the acquittal disappoints those who bravely testified, including organizations like Civitas Maxima and the GJRP, the Finnish prosecutors respect the court’s decision, acknowledging the complexities surrounding international crimes and the pursuit of justice.
