The Prosecutor v. Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao
Case Sheet · SCSL
The Prosecutor v. Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine Gbao
| Case Number | SCSL-04-15 |
| Case name | RUF |
| Status | Closed · Sentenced Closed · Sentence Served |
Context
Issa Hassan Sesay was a senior member of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), serving 1993 to 1997 as an RUF Area Commander, and from about April 1997 to December 1999 as RUF Battle Group Commander. In May 2000 he became Interim Leader of the RUF. During the AFRC regime, he was a member of the AFRC’s ruling body.
Morris Kallon was a member of the AFRC ruling body. In early 2000 he became RUF Battle Group Commander. In about June 2001 he became RUF Battle Field Commander.
Augustine Gbao was a senior RUF commander in Kailahun District. From mid-1998 to January 2002 he was Overall Security Commander of the AFRC/RUF, and commanded all security and intelligence units in the AFRC/RUF forces. From about March 1999 to about January 2002 he was the joint commander of AFRC/RUF forces in the Makeni area.
Pre-Trial
| Indictment | 7 March 2003 |
| Consolidated / Amended Indictment | 6 May 2004 |
| Crimes Charged | Issa Hassan Sesay Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Taking of hostages · art. 3(c) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Morris Kallon Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Taking of hostages · art. 3(c) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Augustine Gbao Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Taking of hostages · art. 3(c) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute |
| Arrest and Transfer | Issa Hassan Sesay 10 March 2003 Morris Kallon 10 March 2003 Augustine Gbao 14 March 2003 |
| Initial Appearance | Issa Hassan Sesay 15 March 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty Morris Kallon 15 March 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty Augustine Gbao 16 April 2003 · Plea: Not Guilty |
| Joinder of Cases | 27 January 2004 |
Trial
| Trial Chamber | Trial Chamber I · Hon. Justice Pierre Boutet (Presiding), Hon. Justice Benjamin Mutanga Itoe, Hon. Justice Bankole Thompson |
| Trial Opening | 5 July 2004 |
| Trial Judgment | 2 March 2009 |
| Crimes at Trial Judgment | Issa Hassan Sesay Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Morris Kallon Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Augustine Gbao Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute |
| Sentencing Judgment | Issa Hassan Sesay 52 years of imprisonment Morris Kallon 40 years of imprisonment Augustine Gbao 25 years of imprisonment |
Appeal
| Appeals Chamber | Appeals Chamber · Justice Renate Winter (Presiding), Justice Jon M. Kamanda, Justice George Gelaga King, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, Justice Shireen Avis Fisher |
| Appeals Filed By | Both |
| Appeal Judgment | 26 October 2009 |
| Crimes at Appeal Judgment | Issa Hassan Sesay Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Morris Kallon Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Collective punishments · art. 3(b) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute Augustine Gbao Crimes against humanity Crime against humanity of murder · art. 2(a) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of extermination · art. 2(b) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of enslavement · art. 2(c) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of rape · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of sexual slavery · art. 2(g) SCSL Statute Crime against humanity of other inhumane acts · art. 2(i) SCSL Statute Violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder as well as cruel treatment such as torture, mutilation or any form of corporal punishment · art. 3(a) SCSL Statute Acts of terrorism · art. 3(d) SCSL Statute Outrages upon personal dignity · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Pillage · art. 3(e) SCSL Statute Other serious violations of international humanitarian law Intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units or vehicles involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as long as they are entitled to the protection given to civilians or civilian objects under the international law of armed conflict · art. 4(b) SCSL Statute Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities · art. 4(c) SCSL Statute |
| Final Sentence | Issa Hassan Sesay 52 years of imprisonment Morris Kallon 40 years of imprisonment Augustine Gbao 25 years of imprisonment |
| Transfer to Serve Sentence | Issa Hassan Sesay 26 October 2009 · Rwanda Morris Kallon 26 October 2009 · Rwanda Augustine Gbao 26 October 2009 · Rwanda 9 September 2020 · Early release |
Key Documents
| Consolidated Indictment | Consolidated Indictment (2004) |
| Trial Judgment | Trial Judgment (2009) |
| Sentencing Judgment | Sentencing Judgment (2009) |
| Appeal Judgment | Appeal Judgment (2009) |
| RSCSL Case Page | Official RSCSL page |