By Amos Harris
Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., along with several other high-ranking former officials, has been acquitted in one of Liberia’s most politically charged corruption and economic sabotage cases. The high-profile trial involved allegations of unauthorized transactions totaling more than US$6.2 million and L$1 billion.
The definitive ruling was delivered on Friday by Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. This verdict concludes months of intense courtroom battles, heated political debates, and significant public scrutiny. For Tweah and his co-defendants, who had maintained their innocence since the onset of the legal proceedings, the acquittal represents a major victory against the Government of Liberia.
As the verdict was announced, supporters of the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration broke into celebration outside the Temple of Justice. Chanting slogans and waving party colors, they praised the court for what they characterized as a fair and independent judgment. Tweah walked out of the court a free man after the jury determined that state prosecutors had failed to establish sufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
In addition to Tweah, the court cleared former officials Nyenati Tuan, Moses Cooper, Stanley Ford, and Jefferson Karmoh. The group had faced a litany of serious charges, including economic sabotage, theft of public funds, criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering.
The core of the prosecution’s argument rested on allegations that the accused orchestrated illegal transfers from the Central Bank of Liberia into accounts linked to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA). Government lawyers contended that these transactions violated public financial management laws and anti-corruption statutes, claiming the funds were moved without proper documentation, legislative oversight, or lawful authorization.
In contrast, the defense team argued that the funds were utilized for legitimate national security operations. They maintained that the transactions were executive security expenditures, which are sensitive in nature and cannot be fully disclosed to the public. Furthermore, Tweah’s legal counsel repeatedly accused the Unity Party-led government of conducting a politically motivated prosecution designed to tarnish the reputation of the former administration.
The trial followed a significant clarification from the Supreme Court, which ruled that while a sitting President enjoys constitutional immunity for official acts, this protection does not extend to appointed officials. This ruling paved the way for the proceedings at Criminal Court “C” to move forward after weeks of jurisdictional disputes.
The jury’s decision was comprehensive, returning “not guilty” verdicts on every count, including economic sabotage, theft, and money laundering. Defense lawyers, including Cllr. Augustine Fayiah, praised the outcome as a triumph of justice over what they described as a failed and weak prosecution.
The acquittal is now being viewed as a significant setback for the Boakai administration’s anti-corruption agenda. While some citizens view the ruling as a sign of a healthy, independent judiciary, others are critical of the state’s inability to secure a conviction after investing substantial public resources into the investigation.
As the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s office weigh their next steps, the case has left a lasting impact on Liberia’s political landscape. It has raised fundamental questions about the government’s capacity to handle complex financial crimes and the future of accountability and governance in the country. For now, the acquittal closes a major chapter in Liberia’s legal history, leaving the nation divided over the intersection of justice and political rivalry.
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