The United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone has indicted nine suspects, including a senior government politician and two former rebel leaders. They are implicated in decade-long atrocities and human rights violation in that country. However, critics have questioned the need for a Special Court that is to spend close to sixty million United States dollars to fulfill its mandate. They say sixty million dollars could be used to resettle Sierra Leoneans who suffered in the hands of rebel forces. David Crane is the Chief Prosecutor for the UN Special Court in Sierra Leone. He says the court is necessary in order to stop impunity not only in Sierra Leone, but throughout West Africa. Mr. Crane says the court is also carrying out what he calls “a joint criminal enterprise” and is following the evidence wherever it may lead.
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