A court in Guinea on Wednesday found former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara and seven other accused military commanders guilty of crimes against humanity in a 2009 stadium massacre.
Their charges, which included murder, rape, torture and kidnapping, were reclassified to crimes against humanity, the court said.
Four others accused were found not guilty.
Camara, 60, was the ruler of Guinea when more than 150 people were killed during a pro-democracy rally on Sept. 28, 2009.
The former leader, who escaped from prison in November last year during an armed jailbreak but was later recaptured, sat impassively in court dressed in a black and gold traditional bubu robe as the verdict was read. Camara, who had denied the charges and pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Another high-level official, Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, sometimes known as "Toumba", received a sentence of 10 years in prison due to his cooperation with the court.
Colonel Moussa Tiegboro Camara, secretary of state in charge of fighting organised crime, was sentenced to 20 years.
In the 2009 incident, tens of thousands of people had gathered at a stadium in Conakry to press Camara not to stand in a presidential election the following year. Many were shot, stabbed, beaten or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged the stadium.
At least a dozen women were raped by security forces, prosecutors said during the trial.
"This is a widespread and systematic attack by armed men against a civilian population," the judge said while reading the verdict.
He added that families of those who were killed will get 2 billion Guinean francs ($233,890) for each victim while rape and torture victims will receive 1 billion each.
Latest Stories
-
I am not ready to sign any artiste to my record label – Kuami Eugene
17 mins -
Gov’t spokesperson on governance & security calls for probe into ballot paper errors
20 mins -
Free dialysis treatment to be available in 40 facilities from December 1 – NHIA CEO
34 mins -
NHIA will need GHC57 million annually to fund free dialysis treatment – NHIA CEO
40 mins -
MELPWU signs first-ever Collective Agreement with government
1 hour -
I’ve not been evicted from my home – Tema Central MP refutes ‘unfounded’ reports
1 hour -
After Free SHS, what next? – Alan quizzes and pledges review to empower graduates
2 hours -
Wontumi FM’s Oheneba Asiedu granted bail
2 hours -
Alan promises to amend the Constitution to limit presidential powers
2 hours -
Ghana to face liquidity pressures in 2025, 2026 despite restructuring most of its debt – Fitch
2 hours -
NPP’s record of delivering on promises is unmatched – Bawumia
2 hours -
Mahama: It’s time to dismiss the incompetent NPP government
2 hours -
‘It’s extremely embarrassing’ – Ernest Thompson on Ghana’s AFCON failure
2 hours -
Today’s front pages: Monday, November 25, 2024
2 hours -
T-bill auction: Government misses target again; interest rates continue to rise
3 hours