The UN-backed Special Court on Sierra Leone has sentenced former defense investigator Prince Taylor to a 30-month jail sentence, according to a release received from the court here over the weekend.

Taylor was convicted on five out of nine counts for interfering with prosecution witnesses who had testified in the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

Irish-born judge Teresa Doherty, in her ruling, said because of the good record and excellent support the accused had given to the justice system of the country, Taylor should not be given the sentence of between four to five years and a two million Leones or $ 500  fine recommended by the prosecution.

The independent counsel had earlier in a sentence hearing recommended a four to five-year sentence and a fine of two million Leones.

Taylor, who had worked with the court for some seven years, had allegedly induced four witnesses to recant their testimony.

The maximum penalty for the act, according to court officials, is seven years and a two million Leones fine.