MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has clarified that it has not made any decision which grants approval of the setting up of a War Crimes Court in Liberia, as has been speculated in some quarters.
The Government said:” Any decision will first have to meet the expressed consent of the Liberian people through their elected representatives.”
A Justice Ministry statement, however, said there is a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) agreement between Liberia and Finland, which allows for cooperation in criminal investigation and the prosecution of accused persons.
Under the agreement, Finland judges, including prosecution and defense counsels, will come to Liberia to take statements from witnesses for an ongoing War Crimes Trial in Finland.
The Solicitor General of Liberia, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas, however, emphasized that the Liberian Government is not a party to the ongoing trial in Finland, and has neither given permission for the setting up a War Crimes Court in the Country.
The Government is, therefore, calling on media institutions to fact track their stories before publication.
