[JURIST] A federal judge on Friday denied bail for the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Roy Belfast Jr. and Charles Taylor Jr., was charged [indictment, PDF; JURIST report] last week with committing torture in the first prosecution brought under a federal anti-torture statute [18 USC 2340A text]. Emmanuel commanded a paramilitary unit in Liberia during his father's regime and is said to have committed the torture in 2002 when he allegedly took a man from his home and abused him with a hot iron, scalding water, and electric shocks. Emmanual has pleaded not guilty [JURIST report] to the charges. US Magistrate Judge William Turnoff denied bail, ruling that Emmanuel is a flight risk and is a danger to the community.

Charles Taylor [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] is currently awaiting trial [JURIST report] at The Hague before judges of the Special Court for Sierra Leone [official website] on crimes against humanity charges. AP has more.