Liberia: French justice looks into the personality of Kunti Camara
Hearing sketch made on October 10, 2022, showing former commander Ulimo Kunti Kamara, at the Paris Criminal Court.
AFP - BENOIT PEYRUCQ
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Accused of having committed crimes against humanity in the 1990s, Kunti Kamara is now before the French courts.
On the second day of his trial, the Court examined his personality.
Advertising
Read more
With our special correspondent at the Paris Criminal Court
,
Sébastien Nemeth
“
Intelligent
”, “
helpful
”, but also “
calm
”, reserved, even “
withdrawn
”.
This is how his entourage describes Kunti Camara since he moved to France, since the personality investigator could not interview people living in Liberia.
The accused, still in his black jacket, again listened patiently.
In particular, he was able to see two men, Liberians settled in France, defend his case at the bar.
“
He was very nice.
If you find anyone to speak ill of them, put me in prison for life!
said the former president of the Liberians of Normandy.
The latter considered that the accusations against Kunti Camara had been fabricated by a malicious network, which would have paid people to make false testimonies.
Another Liberian, who knew the accused when he was young and was hosting him in Bobigny when he was arrested, explained that he would never have hosted Kunti Camara if he was a war criminal.
“
I cried when I heard these accusations.
My father was killed during the war.
I too could have taken up arms.
I would never have left him with my wife and children
,” said Layi Bamba.
The latter says he interviewed acquaintances in Liberia.
“
He was just a simple soldier.
No one said anything bad about him
,” said this former naturalized refugee.
The former commander of the Ulimo rebels also knows how to defend his case with energy.
Pressed by the President of the Court on differences in versions, Kunti Camara regained energy, brandishing his finger, raising his voice.
“
Sir, I ask the questions, you answer
,” retorted the magistrate firmly.
But ultimately, how can there be such a discrepancy between a banal personality and such violent crimes, the court wondered several times?
“
Atrocities can be committed in a historical context.
No need to be a pervert or a psychopath.
And it is then possible to rebuild oneself in denial
, ”said the psychiatric expert.
Dr Daniel Zagury knows what he is talking about.
He notably interrogated Rwandan genocidaires.
We can go from “
Mr. All the Monster to Mr. All the World
”, indicated the expert, refusing however to say if Kunti Camara was capable of such crimes.
None of these witnesses knew Kunti Camara directly when he was commander of the Ulimo rebels in the 1990s. Liberia.
►
See also Liberia: on the first day of his trial, Kunti Kamara continues to deny en bloc
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Liberia
France
Justice