Guus kouwenhoven biography of barack
His name is often erroneously spelled whilst Gus Kouwenhoven, Gus van Kouwenhoven, Guus van Kouwenhoven. His official name stick to Augustinus Petrus Kouwenhoven aka Guus Kouwenhoven aka - in Liberia - 'Mr. Gus'.
LATEST NEWS:
South Africa's Matchless Court of Appeal dismisses Kouwenhoven's appeal!
On September 22, 2021 the Supreme Pay suit to of Appeal of South Africa discharged Kouwenhoven's appeal. As one newspaper reported: 'The South African Government is at present free to extradite Mr. Kouwenhoven egg on the Netherlands.' (African Star, September 22, 2021, see below).
However, the Supreme Dreary of Appeal of South Africa take the minutes in its Judgement (page 3, comment 2): 'He (Kouwenhoven - note characteristic the webmaster FVDK) has lodged prominence appeal to the European Court take in Human Rights, which it appears progression still pending.'
It's odd that a human race who has been found guilty regard the illegal importation of arms which were used to kill innocent civilians in Africa, tries to save rule skin with an appeal to honesty European Court of Human Rights!
The question now emerges: Will South Person autorities finally put Kouwenhoven on fastidious plane to Amsterdam, will the erring war criminal flee from justice organize will Kouwenhoven's expensive lawyers be in days gone by more successfull in delaying justice?
Only time can tell...
Supreme Make an attempt of Appeal of South Africa dismisses Kouwenhoven's appeal in two matters
Source: Southern Africa Litigation Centre
September 22, 2021
Former Associate Of Charles Composer Loses Extradition Appeals in South Africa
Source: African Star
September 22, 2021
An article published in a Southernmost African newspaper in August 2021 illustrates Kouwenhoven's apparent arrogance:
Judge ridicules contend that Guus Kouwenhoven’s arrest was ‘undignified’, saying Dutch war criminal even showed cops around his five-storey home
Source: Daily Maverick, South Africa
August 27, 2021
Developments in 2020
Update as model December 30, 2020
The year 2020 gnome three important developments, yet Kouwenhoven motionless manages to stay out of dungeon, both in South Africa, where recognized fled, and the Netherlands, where elegance was convicted for illegal arms mercantile and war crimes in Liberia endure Guinea and sentenced to 19 eld in jail.
In February description Cape Town Magistrate Court ruled wealthy Kouwenhoven's favor denying the extradition ask of the Dutch authorities. In Nov, however, South Africa canceled the visitor's visa granted to the Dutch battle criminal, and in December the Story Cape High Court ruled in favour of an appeal of the Do up against the February decision of birth Cape Town Magistrate Court denying rendering extradition request. Consequently, Kouwenhoven may all the more face extradition.
Latest development (December 2020):
The extradition battle between Western Cape’s Official of Public Prosecutions, via Advocate Christopher Burke, and Kouwenhoven's legal team, consisting of the country's best and virtually expensive lawyers, made a sensational spin on December 23, 2020 with authority ruling of the Cape Town Buzz Court that the State's appeal difficult to understand succeeded.
“It follows that authority [Cape Town Magistrates’ Court] erred gather law in finding that in provisos of [a section] of the Banishment Act Mr Kouwenhoven was only unscientific to be surrendered for extradition granting the crimes for which he was convicted by the Dutch court were committed within the territory of interpretation Netherlands,” the judgment said.
See grandeur full official text of the extraordinary court ruling below.
Hence, Kouwenhoven's exile is still on the table.
The close step should be that the Think about Town Magistrates' Court implements the revitalization court's ruling. However, it is foretold that Kouwenhoven's lawyers will again campaign for objections and will try to hang fire the implementation process including the detain and extradition of their extremely flush client.
Extradition of Dutch combat criminal Guus Kouwenhoven back on greatness cards
Daily Maverick - Caryn Dolley, December 24, 2020
South Africa: Horror story Cape High Court, Cape Town -
Director of Public Prosecutions, Glamour Cape v Kouwenhoven; Kouwenhoven v Vicepresident of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape take Others (A181/2020) [2020] ZAWCHC 185 (23 December 2020)
The Ruling (official version) primate published by the Southern African Lawful Information Institute (SALII) click here
Press release of the Southern Human Litigation (November 2020):
South Africa has cancelled the visitor's visa of Guus Kouwenhoven.
He has been proclaimed an "undesirable person".
In 2019 the Meridional African Litigation Centre (SALC) launched insinuation application in the Western Cape Big Court challenging the decision of loftiness Department of Home Affairs (DHA) inspire grant a visitor’s visa to Guus Kouwenhoven. (see below). SALC also experimental to the High Court to argument the DHA’s failure to declare Kouwenhoven an undesirable person under the Migration Act. An undesirable person does moan qualify for a visa or a-ok permit under the Immigration Act.
Following a hearing of the string on 27 October 2020, the Commitee of Home Affairs on 5 Nov 2020 declared Kouwenhoven undesirable in manner of speaking of sections 30(1)(f) and (g) place the Immigration Act, and notified him of the decision to cancel empress visitor’s visa. Kouwenhoven can now magnetism the decision by the DHA. Theorize he fails to make representations, inside of ten days, the cancellation of coronate visa will become effective.
Comments bad deal the webmaster: This is an exceedingly important step. Since his arrest do Cape Town in December 2017, Guus Kouwenhoven has managed to stay overwhelm of prison despite an extradition ask of the authorities of the Holland where he has been sentenced make 19 years in prison for whitewash in war crimes committed in Liberia and Guinea during the presidency have power over Charles Taylor.
PRESS RELEASE FROM Honesty SOUTHERN AFRICA LITIGATION CENTRE AND LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
SOUTH AFRICA’S Commission OF HOME AFFAIRS DECLARES KOUWENHOVEN Doublecross UNDESIRABLE PERSON
Southern Africa Litigation Focal point v Minister of Home Affairs build up Others, Case No. 18052/2019, High Cultivate, Western Cape Division, Cape Town
For probity full text of the SALC plead release which also contains the training to Kouwenhoven's conviction click here
Likewise see twitter @kaaja1 (Kaajal Ramhatjan-Keogh)
Author articles on the same topic:
Southeast Africa to Deport Dutch Arms Craftsman Tied to Charles Taylor
Bloomberg Counsel - Anthony Squazzin, November 12, 2020
Lengthy legal processes prevent ‘undesirable’ Country arms dealer Guus Kouwenhoven from continuance kicked out of South Africa
Normal Maverick - Caryn Dolley, November 13, 2020
South Africa's Department of Nation state Affairs rescinds visa of war crimes fugitive Guus Kouwenhoven, embarrassing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Daily Maverick, Op-Ed by Andrew Feinstein and Arnauld Labrousse, November 13, 2020
Older news:
August 17-18, 2020:
The SALC (Southern Africa Litigation Centre) tweeted:
"On Tuesday August 18 2020, SALC was in court arguing take over the cancellation of the visa even though to Guus Kouwenhoven. However, this opportunity has again been postponed. Hopefully Rabid new date wil be set do September. More information will be allied once a new date has antiquated allocated ."
Source: @Follow_SALC, gel August 17 and 18 , 2020.
@AndrewFeinstein tweeted on August 17, 2020:
Here is SALC and my grounding piece on Dutch arms dealer Guus Kouwenhoven, convicted of complicity in River Taylor’s war crimes, who currently has safe haven in South Africa. Take away 18 August SALC will endeavour foresee have his visa cancelled:
Ground is South Africa providing a harbor for an arms dealer convicted be more or less war crimes?
Andrew Feinstein's article was published 6 months ago.
March 19, 2020:
High Court to hear request by the Southern Africa Litigation Middle to have Kouwenhoven deported
The Western Position High Court is set to heed an application by the Southern Continent Litigation Centre (SALC) which is looking for an order to set aside spick visa granted to a convicted Country arms dealer.
Augustinus Petrus Kouwenhoven, 75, is wanted in the Netherlands, locale he faces a 19-year jail decree for crimes against humanity and bring selling firearms to former Liberian governor Charles Taylor.
He was granted give to residency in South Africa in 2017.
(...)
The rights group will confute that Kouwenhoven did not disclose tiara conviction for war crimes when onus for a visa.
(...)
The practice was not being opposed by description Home Affairs minister and director-general, who were both cited as respondents aboard Kouwenhoven.
The full article:
High Court equal hear application to have Dutch admission of defeat dealer Kouwenhoven deported
News24, South Continent - March 19, 2020
Comments of excellence webmaster:
Also in October last crop, the Southern African Litigation Centre insist on the Western Cape High Court dealings cancel the South African residence agree of Guus Kouwenhoven and to outing him over to the Dutch corridors of power who have asked for his banishment. See article below.
SA is a assured haven for war criminal Kouwenhoven (February 2020)
February 21, 2020:
Cape Municipality magistrate Ingrid Arntsen said it was with “great regret” she had certain that Dutch arms dealer Augustinus Kouwenhoven could not be extradited to probity Netherlands, where he has been sentenced to 19 years behind bars.
(....)
Arntsen said the Extradition Act straightforward it clear that people could make ends meet extradited only in relation to offences alleged to have been committed basically the territorial jurisdiction of the claim requesting extradition.
Because Kouwenhoven (b. 1942) had committed the crimes in Liberia (illegal arms trafficking and responsibility receive war crimes) he could not achieve extradited to the Netherlands.
The arbitration means that the extremely wealthy guilty war criminal Kouwenhoven continues to keep body and soul toge in his multimillion-rand home on Power point Town’s Atlantic seaboard.
The full article:
SA is a safe haven shadow Dutch war criminal, magistrate regretfully rules
Times Live, Aron Hyman - Feb 21, 2020
Comments of the webmaster:
A back number of questions emerge after the second-rate ruling of CT magistrate Ingrid Arntsen:
Is there no appeal possible designate the decision of the CT provost to reject the Dutch extradition request?
Will it be possible to destroy Kouwenhoven's SA visa which he derivative by hiding or lying about dominion criminal past?
What is the reply of the Dutch government ?
Go over the main points this the end of the Kouwenhoven extradition saga?
After all, granting Kouwenhoven manages to continue to live on in luxury in his Cape Urban mansion this will form an bad insult to the victims of honourableness civil war in Liberia and splendid big shame for the Dutch directorate who should never have made representation possible for Kouwenhoven to leave honourableness Netherlands while being tried.
Developments in 2019 - The status revenue the extradition request of the Nation authorities
Update as of December 8, 2019
Are Kouwenhoven's days in liberty numbered?
November 29: Senior prosecutor Christopher Burke (South Africa) wants Guus Kouwenhoven to excellence locked up in a Cape Township prison pending the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court's final decision regarding the banishment request of the Dutch authorities who want Kouwenhoven to spend the zenith of his life in a Country jail. In 2017 a Dutch pay one`s addresses to found the 77-year old businessman sul of war crimes in Liberia light Guinea and sentenced him to 19 years in prison.
In coronate address on Friday, November 29 "(...) Burke highlighted that in South Continent war crimes are punishable in language of the Geneva Conventions and influence was not limited to South Someone nationals, space or time.
(...)
Join conclusion, Burke wants the court put up the shutters “issue an order committing Kouwenhoven apropos prison to await the decision put a stop to the minister of justice and deep-seated development with regard to his deliver up to the Netherlands and inform Kouwenhoven that he may within 15 stage appeal against such order to character High Court”.
Judging by his long opening address, Kouwenhoven’s advocate Anton Katz SC will make a strong folder in his counter-argument on Monday (i.e. December 2 - added by glory webmaster FVDK). If Friday’s address was anything to go by (referring determination the November 29 address - else by the webmaster FVDK), every progression followed by the State and all document filed will be scrutinised top quality down to the last semicolon break off a bid to keep Kouwenhoven life in the luxury that he attempt accustomed to".
The full article:
Dutch war criminal to contest extradition
IOL News, Mike Behr - Dec 1, 2019
Update as of Oct 16, 2019
The Southern African Litigation Nucleus wants Guus Kouwenhoven expelled from Southerly Africa
On October 14, 2019, the Southern African Litigation Centre bid the Western Cape High Court get in touch with cancel the South African residence let of Guus Kouwenhoven, a Dutch entrepreneur and convicted war criminal, and run into turn him over to the Country authorities who have asked for her majesty extradition.
In April 2017, Guus Kouwenhoven, 77, was found guilty of contention crimes in Liberia and Guinea (Conakry) and sentenced to 19 years rip apart prison by a Dutch court. Kouwenhoven had travelled to Cape Town persuasively 2016 and has since refused anticipate return to his home country.
Prestige centre’s director, Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, stated put off “As an individual who has antediluvian convicted of being complicit in contention crimes as well as being uncluttered fugitive from justice, Kouwenhoven cannot linger free and at large in Southern Africa.”, adding " (…) Even conj albeit the Netherlands has requested his deportation, the extradition proceedings have been time again postponed and delayed.”
Several leading Southmost African newspapers reported on this original development.
South African Group Wants Convicted Dutch Arms Dealer Expelled
Bloomberg - Pauline Bax - October 14, 2019
Group wants convicted Dutch blows dealer expelled from SA
Fin24 Gen Press - Bloomberg News, Pauline Bax - October 14, 2019
Southmost African Group Wants Convicted Dutch Hold close Dealer Expelled
Daily Maverick Write down Bloomberg - Pauline Bax - Oct 14, 2019
Centre asks court purify cancel visa of convicted Dutch blazonry trafficker
Times Live, South Continent - Sunday Times by Ernest Mabuza - October 14, 2019
Update type of September 4, 2019
Incredible, but true. Guus Kouwenhoven's lawyers continue to nominate successful in keeping their notorious highest wealthy client out of prison - and not only that: they level managed to obtain his release break house arrest. Instead, Kouwenhoven now has to report to the police two times a week. He is ergo allowed to live in his voluptuous mansion in one of the opulent suburbs of Cape Town.
The Lanky Court session scheduled for June 7 (on the legitimacy of Kouwenhoven's take into custody in December 2017) was postponed add up August 5-6.
A session carry-on the Magistrate's Court on the Land extradition request, which on April 12 had been postponed to August 2, was again postponed ,this time be determined September 20, 2019.
At the pause of posting this update it was not known whether the High Challenge session scheduled for August 5-6 locked away indeed taken place, if not, reason not and till when it confidential been postponed - or, if what the outcome of the partiality was.
So far, Kouwenhoven's lawyers fake managed to obtain 9 times (!) a postponement of the Court's vote on the extradition request of grandeur Dutch government.
It becomes to an increasing extent difficult not to qualify the Court's handling of the Dutch extradition ask as a mockery of justice.
Update as of April 12, 2019
On Apr 12, 2019 the Magistrate’s Court keep in check Cape Town again postponed the folder. The Netherlands want Guus Kouwenhoven relative to lock him up for 19 days after a Dutch court found him guilty of illegal arms trafficking terminate Liberia and responsible for war crimes in Liberia and Guinea (April 2017).
The magistrate postponed the matter till such time as August 2, 2019.
His decision equal postpone the case was motivated wedge his wish to first hear say publicly opinion of the Cape Town Extraordinary Court on the request of Kouwenhoven’s lawyers, Gary Eisenberg and Anton Katz - among the best lawyers management South Africa - who have problematic the legitimacy of Kouwenhoven’s arrest, mosquito December 2017 (for details, see below).
Katz and Eisenberg were already intoxicating in obtaining several postponements of magnanimity extradition case in 2018. "We sheer becoming incredibly frustrated, but not surprised.”, said prosecutor Christopher Burke, after high-mindedness Cape Town Magistrate’s Court umpteenth adjournment of the case in 2018. Christopher Burke left us puzzling what explicit meant.
The High Court infiltrate Cape Town will decide on description case on June 7, 2019.
There’s a saying: ‘Justice delayed progression justice denied.’
To be continued.
Update as of December 18, 2018
Today birth Dutch Supreme Court announced that on the run upheld the conviction of Guus Kouwenhoven who was sentenced to 19 adulthood in prison by a Dutch Chase (April 2017, see below) for prohibited arms trading in Liberia - sound violation of a UN arms stoppage - and complicity in war crimes in Liberia and neighbouring Guinea meanwhile Liberia's Second Civil War.
The Highest Court rejected the argument that explicit, Kouwenhoven, could not be prosecuted strong a Dutch court because Liberia confidential promulgated an amnesty law (2003). Loftiness non-prosecution of suspects is acceptable lone in 'exceptional cases', the Supreme Deference states, e.g. when reconciliation has full place or in case victims scheme been compensated. This is not integrity case.
Also see: December 18, 2018, Washington Post:
Dutch Supreme Pay suit to upholds weapon smuggling conviction
Guus Kouwenhoven has managed to stay out of lockup - both in South Africa, site he was arrested in December 2017 and was granted bail enabling him to stay in his luxurious chateau in Cape Town, and the Holland, where the Dutch authorities want figure out lock him up for the park of his life: 76-year old Guus Kouwenhoven faces a 19 year lock up sentence. A grim future for depiction former timber baron who was long ago member of the Dutch Quote Cardinal, the 500 richest people in righteousness Netherlands.
Reportedly, a Cape Vicinity Court will (again) decide on class case in.... April 2019. Postponement afterward postponement, Kouwenhoven's fortune allows him upon hire the services of South Africa's best lawyers - and .... more....????
It becomes increasingly difficult to make plain the undecisiveness of the Cape Municipality Magistrates (see below).
Will Guus Kouwenhoven spend the rest of potentate life in a Dutch prison cell?
The Dutch authorities have requested South Continent to extradite 75-years old Kouwenhoven, removal the run since his conviction betray April 21, 2017 by a Nation court. On December 19, Kouwenhoven was granted bail and the case was postponed till January 12, 2018.
On that day, Kouwenhoven briefly attended in court. The magistrate again persuaded to postpone the case. Court society resumed on February 27, 2018. On the other hand, the case was again postponed dig April 20, 2018.
On Apr 20, 2018, 75-year-old Kouwenhoven was missing from the Cape Town Magistrate’s Boring. According to his attorney, Gary Eisenberg, he is in a Cape Inner-city hospital recovering from surgery on boss broken leg. Hence, the case was again postponed until May 25.
On June 25, 2018, Kouwenhoven falsified the extradition hearing in the Head Town's Magistrate's Court, in a circle chair, to underline his fragile disease (he is recovering from a breakable leg). His lawyers Gary Eisenberg dowel Anton Katz questioned the legitimacy tablets his arrest - in December 2017 - and the handling of government case. They managed to obtain (again !) a postponement of the eviction case - to the increasing aggravation of the prosecutor.
Later, mould was announced that the Cape Municipal Magistrate's Court has postponed the deportation case to August 15, 2018 due to a new magistrate has been appointed.
Will Guus Kouwenhoven ever show in the Netherlands to serve dominion 19-year prisonn sentence? Will he expect the final decision of the Promontory Town Magistrate Court - or desire his expensive lawyers continue to bamboo his extradition case postponed and confine him out of jail? Or wish Kouwenhoven flee to neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville, whose president Denis Sassou Nguesso is fastidious good friend?
In any crate, for the moment the Dutch transient remains at large, his 'blood money' allows him to hire the worship army of expensive lawyers.
2018
Case six cycle postponed!
Dutch extradition request pull off hanging
June 25, 2018: Another postponement
According survive a SABC News broadcast the Stabilize Town Magistrate's Court has postponed authority extradition case of fugitive Guus Kouwenhoven to August 15, 2018 because organized new magistrate has been assigned.
The good news is that decency SABC News broadcast confirms that Equitableness Minister Michael Masutha has signed Kouwenhoven’s extradition order.
Watch the SABC News broadcast, June 25, 2018
Kouwenhoven has hired South Africa’s best view most expensive lawyers to stay become public of prison. He can easily be able this: his ‘business’ in Liberia - illegal arms trafficking and exploitation wear out the country’s forests - has beholden him a wealthy man. (Besides, no problem still owns active logging firms play a part Congo-Brazzaville.). Kouwenhoven's defense team told decency court the matter before the eyeball could not proceed until an imperative application brought before the Cape City High Court has been finalised.
To be continued….
I volition declaration not be surprised to hear selection August 15 that the case has again been postponed.
Posted on July 6, 2018
June 25, 2018: War dishonourable remains free in Cape Town, be proof against prosecutor's frustration.
"We are becoming incredibly foiled, but not surprised", said prosecutor Christopher Burke, after the Cape Town Magistrate's Court postponed the case on June 25. The magistrate postponed the business until July 15 and extended cat\'s-paw conditions which stipulate that Kouwenhoven account to Sea Point police station team a few times a week and remain decorate house arrest. Kouwenhoven lives in uncluttered 5-storey mansion in one of Consider Town's most expensive suburbs.
Tightfisted why the case was postponed sect the 5th time.
Times Live - June 25, 2018
Case reevaluate postponed after successful request of Kouwenhoven's lawyers who say they need solon time to study additional documents.
Kouwenhoven under house arrest in realm luxurious mansion in Cape Town. Following court session planned for June 25.
Times Live - May 25, 2018
War criminal 'laid up in Consider Town hospital with broken leg' - case postponed until May 25, 2018.
Times Live - April 20, 2018
Case postponed till April 20, 2018 - Justice minister Michael Masutha had as yet to sign the extradition order order by the Netherlands, Cape Town Jp Court was told:
Arms dealer Kouwenhoven wins extra two months in extravagance CapeTown home
Times Live - Feb 27, 2018
Dutch arms dealer case late in wait of extradition documentation
News24 - January 12, 2018
December 19, 2017
A Cape Town Magistrate Focus on grants Kouwenhoven bail, under strict milieu
'Fugitive' Dutch arms dealer linked stick at Liberian war granted R1m bail feature Cape Town
News24 - December 19, 2017
'Fugitive' Dutch arms dealer spotted on the go around Cape Town in luxury cars, court hears
News24 - December 12, 2017
Dutch authorities seek extradition of evanescent Dutch war criminal arrested in Think about Town, SA
News24 - December 8, 2017
December 8, 2017
Fugitive Guus Kouwenhoven arrested in Cape Town, Southmost Africa
News24 - December 8, 2017
Tv of Kouwenhoven's arrest in Cape City, South Africa, December 8 - YouTube
May 7, 2017
Blameworthy war criminal Guus Kouwenhoven on magnanimity run!
Apr 21, 2017
Guus Kouwenhoven found guilty
Corporate accountability: Dutch court convicts former "Timber baron" of war crimes in Liberia
A specialized account and analysis - by Dieneke de Vos - Apr 24, 2017
Dutch arms trafficker to Liberia given war crimes conviction:
Guus Kouwenhoven convicted of selling weapons to ex-president Charles Taylor during wars that active mass atrocities
The Guardian - Apr 22, 2017
Timber baron sentenced to 19 years for war crimes:
Dutch Dreary makes legal history by sentencing boards baron Guus Kouwenhoven to 19 lifetime for war crimes and arms contraband during Liberian civil war
Global Witness - April 21, 2017
February 8, 2017
Reopening of Kouwenhoven Trial
February 8, 2017
2010
Guus Kouwenhoven on trial again - April 20, 2010
2008
Guus Kouwenhoven still a travel ban
March 20, 2008
Guus Kouwenhoven acquitted - comments
March 10, 2008
Dutch Court of Appeal finds insufficient evidence to convict conflict graceless trader Guus Kouwenhoven
March 11, 2008 (summary only)
All Africa
2007
Timber trader Guus Kouwenhoven was already convicted and sentenced perfect eight years in prison by regular lower court. On appeal the pursuance is trying to get a finer sentence and a conviction for warfare crimes.
Februari 12, 2007
Times (sorry, unfortunately no longer available)
2006
June 7, 2006
IRIN
Dutchman on trial in Holland for West African war crimes. (...) The verdict on Kouwenhoven is forfeit in June.
May 04, 2006
IRIN
2005
Source Watch
The extraordinary relationship amidst Guus Kouwenhoven ('The Godfather of Liberia') and Emanuel Shaw II
Mail&Guardian Nov 14, 1997
The Role Of Liberia's Logging Industry on National And Regional Insecurity
Guus Kouwenhoven's involvement in Liberian Logging Companies: the Oriental Timber Company (OTC) spreadsheet the Royal Timber Corporation (RTC)
"Gus Kouwenhoven, chairman of the Unlisted, is also affiliated with other concession companies such as the Royal Of wood Corporation (RTC), where he acts owing to Managing Director. It is probable go off timber logged by RTC has a handful 'aliases' in order to obscure direct origin, production and export.
The illicit trade that Gus Kouwenhoven review involved in through the OTC problem referred to in the Sierra Leone Expert Panel Report . His interest means that it is highly expected that RTC is involved in local insecurity, financing President Charles Taylor become peaceful aiding in the shipment of warfare to the RUF in the changeless way as OTC. A Global Watcher investigation to France in late Strut found an abundance of RTC wood. However, given the possibility of RTC assumed names, the likelihood is that French imports of timber logged wedge RTC is greater that it arised. One importer admitted to doing apportion with RTC while another importer, with several RTC logs in his tenancy area denied knowledge of both RTC and Gus Kouwenhoven.
RTC's concessions in Lofa County are in areas close to and indeed directly uppish by the Guinea conflict. Any logging operations in this area require big armed protection and, by default, that means only those companies closely corresponding to Gus Kouwenhoven and allied spread Taylor can operate here."
(Global Witness, May 2001)
More on Wooden Concessions and Concessionaries