LIBERIAN “BLOOD TIMBER” BUSINESSMAN AWAITING EXTRADITION Guus Van Kouwenhoven Context Ongoing proceedings against a Dutch national for alleged war crimes committed during the second Liberian civil war (1999–2003) Suspect Dutch national, director of operations of the Oriental Timber Company (OTC), and owner of the Royal Timber Company (RTC), operating in Liberia On 18 December 2018, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction for aiding and abetting war crimes. The judgment is now final. Current status Sentenced Facts Whilst managing the largest timber operation in Liberia, Guus Van Kouwenhoven facilitated the importation of weapons for Charles Taylor, thereby contravening UN Security Council resolutions. These weapons were supplied to militias and used to carry out numerous massacres. Guus Van Kouwenhoven allegedly made available trucks, drivers, and facilities for the transportation and storage of weapons, as well as armed personnel to Charles Taylor’s troops. Country of residence Procedure of suspect The Netherlands Charges Complicity in war crimes, supplying arms and ammunition in violation of weapons embargoes Developments in 2018 Guus Van Kouwenhoven’s extradition hearings in South Africa were postponed several times in 2018 for medical reasons. The last hearing took place in October. On 26 June 2018, the Advocate General advised the Supreme Court to uphold the appeal court’s judgment, and confirm his conviction for complicity in war crimes committed in Liberia and involvement in arms trafficking for Charles Taylor. On 18 March 2005, Guus Van Kouwenhoven was arrested in Rotterdam. He was charged with delivering arms to Liberia, involvement in war crimes committed in that country, and breaching the embargo decreed by the United Nations with respect to Liberia. His trial began on 24 April 2006 in The Hague. On 7 June 2006, the Dutch Court acquitted Guus Van Kouwenhoven of war crimes due to a lack of evidence. He was, however, sentenced to an eight-year prison term for breaking the UN arms embargo against Liberia. Both sides filed an appeal. On 10 March 2008, the Dutch Court of Appeal overturned the conviction and acquitted him of all charges due to a lack of evidence. On 20 April 2010, the Supreme Court of The Netherlands (de Hoge Raad) overturned the decision of 72 the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court considered that the appeal judges wrongly rejected a prosecution request to hear the testimonies of two new witnesses, and ordered a retrial. In December 2016, Guus Van Kouwenhoven fled to South Africa. Guus Van Kouwenhoven’s appeal hearings began on 6 February 2017 before the Court of Appeal of Den Bosch. On 10 February 2017, the prosecution requested a 20-year prison sentence. On 21 April 2017, the Court of Appeal of Den Bosch sentenced Guus Van Kouwenhoven in absentia to 19 years’ imprisonment for complicity in war crimes committed in Liberia, and for his involvement in arms trafficking for Charles Taylor. The Court of Appeal considered that by providing weapons, personnel, and equipment to the armed conflict, Guus Van Kouwenhoven consciously accepted the probability that war crimes and/ or crimes against humanity would be committed. On 8 December 2017, Guus Van Kouwenhoven was arrested in South Africa on a Dutch warrant. The Netherlands has requested his extradition. Read more about the case