Sierra Leone court issues warrant for notorious arms dealer recently found living in capital
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A judge in Sierra Leone has issued an arrest warrant for a top ally of former Liberian President Charles Taylor recently discovered living in Freetown.
Tonia Mbawa issued the warrant Monday after Ibrahim Bah failed to appear in court. Bah has been accused of arranging arms and diamond deals between Taylor and Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front rebel group during the country's 11-year civil war that ended in 2002.
Bah was believed to be in Burkina Faso when he was placed under a U.N. travel ban in 2004, but U.N. experts located him in Freetown earlier this year.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Despite pressure from rights groups, Sierra Leone's government has not pursued charges against Bah. The warrant was issued for a case brought by a private citizen on charges including kidnapping and assault.