The Defence Office of the Special Court for Sierra Leone was informed yesterday that Chief Samuel Hinga Norman, a CDF indictee at the Special Court for Sierra Leone passed away at 11:15 am in Dakar, Senegal where he was recuperating from surgery. Chief Norman, former Deputy Defence Minister and later Minister of Internal Affairs, was indicted on 7 March 2003 on an 8-count indictment for crimes against humanity, violations of Article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Chief Norman had been experiencing health problems that were not life-threatening but needed treatment. As result, he was taken to the L’Hopital Aristide Le Dantec (a military hospital) in Dakar, Senegal on 17 January where he successfully underwent a medical procedure. Chief Norman had been in good spirits after the surgery until 22 February when he collapsed at about 10:55 am. Efforts to resuscitate him failed and he passed away at about 11.15 am. Chief Norman was a great friend of the Defence Office in its duties to facilitate and ensure the rights of accused persons before the Special Court. His death therefore is a tragedy not only to the bereaved family but also to the Special Court and in some particular way to the Defence Office. We express our sympathy to the bereaved family and friends with whom we share this loss. The Defence Office is closely working with the Registry in all the arrangements to deal with this tragedy. #END The Special Court is an independent tribunal established jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It is mandated to bring to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996. To date, the Prosecutor has indicted eleven persons on various charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Ten indictees are currently in the custody of the Court.
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