Former junta commander transferred into custody of Sierra Leone court

An alleged former junta commander was transferred today into the custody of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to await trial on 17 counts of war-crime charges.

The charges against Santigie Kanu, also known as "Brigadier 55," include crimes against humanity, violations of the Geneva Conventions, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law, according to a press release from the Special Court.

Mr. Kanu is being held at the Court's detention facility in Freetown, and will make his initial appearance before a Special Court judge early next week.

He had been in the custody of Sierra Leone's national courts since March on treason charges.