Sierra Leone special court investigating pirated videos of Taylor’s war crimes tribunal

War crimes court investigates pirated videos

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — The U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone says it is investigating pirated videos of former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s war crimes trial.

The Freetown-based court says in a Wednesday statement that the videos are being sold in Sierra Leone and Liberia. It says the videos may have been edited to give a distorted view of the trial.

Special Court Justice Jon Kamanda says the use of court images without permission is also illegal. He says the videos’ packaging suggests they are produced by the court.

Taylor is accused of trading in conflict diamonds in exchange for supporting rebels in Sierra Leone.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell and Mia Farrow have recently given testimony.

Taylor says he’s innocent of war crimes.