Another witness described how rebels put gasoline-doused tires around two prisoners of war and set them ablaze after Jabbateh instructed his men to execute them. In a court document filed after Jabbateh’s arrest last year, his attorney, Gregory Pagano, said Jabbateh vehemently denies that he committed or ordered the violent acts. He has no criminal record, his attorney said, and several of his friends and family told reporters gathered outside U.S. District Court in Philadelphia that Jabbateh never committed war crimes in his homeland. In 2008, the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor was convicted in a federal court in Florida for torturing or ordering the torture of dozens of his father’s political opponents. He also was sued by five torture victims who were awarded $22.4 million in damages.

Source: GNN Liberia October 03, 2017 10:30 UTC