Taylor's son held on passport fraud charge in US

The son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor was ordered held without bail today on US passport fraud charges.

Charles McArthur Emmanuel, 29, also known as Charles “Chuckie” Taylor Jr., was arrested last week after arriving at Miami International Airport from Trinidad.

US immigration officials said Emmanuel lied about the identity of his father on his application for the passport.

Emmanuel’s court-appointed attorney, Miguel Caridad, said at a brief hearing in Miami today that he and prosecutors had agreed that Emmanuel should remain in custody for the time being. US Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan accepted the recommendation.

“We agree to detention for now until it is determined when we will revisit the issue,” said Caridad, an assistant federal public defender.

Emmanuel is a US citizen who was born in Boston in 1977. His mother, Beatrice Emmanuel, was a former girlfriend of Taylor’s, according to court documents.

Taylor, who was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a United Nations-backed special court for his alleged role in a civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. Taylor has pleaded not guilty.

Emmanuel was head of Liberia’s Anti-Terrorist Unit during his father’s term, with responsibilities including training of soldiers on that force and providing security for Taylor.