Posted on 05/05/2008 8:53:55 PM PDT by HAL9000
Taylor 'had billions' in US banks
Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor had transactions of about $5bn in two US bank accounts during his presidency, his prosecutor has told the BBC.
Mr Taylor is being tried by a UN-backed war crimes court for backing rebels in Sierra Leone while in office.
He denies trading arms for diamonds and challenged the international community when he stood down in 2003 to trace and seize any monies they alleged he had.
If any was found he would "turn them over to the Liberian people". During Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, which officially ended in 2002, tens of thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated, raped and had limbs amputated.
Mr Taylor's case has been transferred from Sierra Leone to The Hague for security reasons, although it is still being conducted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
He denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
UN freeze
"We've certainly found evidence of hundreds of millions of dollars taken by Charles Taylor illegally in various banks at different times," prosecutor Stephen Rapp told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"We have evidence of two accounts that were maintained in his name in the United States during his presidency," he said.
The sum of transactions of the two accounts over time totalled $5bn, he said.
About $375m had been debited from one account and Mr Rapp said he was in the process of tracing the funds and a number of countries were co-operating.
If recovered, Mr Rapp said that the money would be subject to a UN freeze on Mr Taylor's assets.
He said that he hoped any money recovered would be shared between the victims of the Sierra Leone civil war and the Liberian state, if Mr Taylor was found guilty.
He kept emailing me about helping him get it out but I ignored it......dang!
I wonder if US Bank hassles him on third party checks too ?
Next thing you know Billy Kilmer will be charged with crimes against humanity.
Is he part Nigerian ?
Another African president found to be corrupted and stealing from the country....Quelle surprise!
Charles is never going to amount to anything.
He’s a street rat thug from Boston/Brockton.
Always has been always will be.
Would you like to buy the world a Coke and sing in harmony?
Dictators come and go...
diamonds are forever, forever...
(apologies to Nancy Sinatra)
Pat Robertson, call your office.
My name is Miss Dian James , the only daugther of Mr. and Mrs Charles Taylor of the blessed memory My father was a very wealthy dictator in Liberia and now he is being tried by the United Nations.
Before my father's arrest , he secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has the sum of $5 billion United States Dollars left in various American banks and that he used my name as his only dauther as the next of kin in depositing the fund. I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways:
1) To provide a bank account into which this money would be transferred to.
2) To serve as a guardian of this fund since I am only 21years old
3) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my education and to secure a resident permit for me in your country.
Moreover, I am willing to offer you 15% of the total sum as compensation for your effort/input after the successful transfer of this fund into your nominated account overseas and 10% for expencis.
Furthermore, you indicate your options towards assisting me as I believe that this transaction would be concluded within fourteen (14) days you signify interest to assist me.
Anticipating to hear from you soon .
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