Judges at the Sierra Leone war crimes court (SCSL) have charged a former rebel fighter with contempt of court for trying to bribe prosecution witnesses in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

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In a ruling made public on Wednesday, Judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone charged an alleged former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel with contempt of court, but dismissed allegations that a defence investigator had also tried to influence witnesses.

The Sierra Leonean was charged with nine counts of contempt, including knowingly and willfully interfering with the court by allegedly offering to bribe or influence five witnesses, including two protected witnesses to persuade them to recant testimony.

Prosecutors had alleged that the RUF rebel told the witnesses he had been sent by Taylor's defence team to persuade them to change their testimonies against the former Liberian leader.

Influencing witnesses from Mpanga prison
In a another ruling, the judges also accused four other Sierra Leoneans with contempt of court, including two SCSL convicts who are serving their sentences in Rwanda. 

From the Mpanga prison in Rwanda, Briza Bazzy Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu attempted to bribe a protected witness to recant their testimonies. In December last year, the duo allegedly made phone calls from Rwanda and used two intermediaries, who are also indicted of contempt charges, to influence the witness.

Kamara and Kanu - members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council - were sentenced to 45 and 50 years imprisonment respectively for their role in the Sierra Leone war in 2007. Their sentences were upheld on appeal a year later.

Last trial
Charles Taylor is the last man to stand trial before the SCSL. He denies 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, mutilation, sexual slavery and conscription of child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Judges are expected to hand down their judgment in the coming months.