The Government of Liberia has defended the outcome of the high-profile corruption trial involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and other senior officials, with Justice Minister N. Oswald Tweh insisting that the verdict represents “a victory for the rule of law” and not a defeat for the administration’s anti-corruption campaign.
Speaking Wednesday during a press conference at the Ministry of Justice in Monrovia, Cllr. Tweh addressed the nation for the first time following last Friday’s jury verdict in the criminal case, Republic of Liberia versus Samuel D. Tweah et al., which centered on the alleged mismanagement and disappearance of more than US$6 million in public funds.
The Justice Minister clarified that while former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and former FIA Comptroller D. Moses P. Cooper were acquitted of all charges, former Solicitor General Nyenati Tuan was convicted on charges including theft of property, criminal facilitation, and criminal conspiracy. Former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh was also convicted of criminal facilitation and conspiracy, while the jury failed to reach a verdict regarding former FIA Director General Stanley S. Ford.
Addressing public criticism surrounding the acquittal of Mr. Tweah, Minister Tweh emphasized that the government’s anti-corruption drive cannot be judged by “a single battle.” “The war against corruption is not decided by one trial,” the Justice Minister declared. “It is decided by the strength of our institutions and by our willingness to prosecute difficult cases involving powerful people.”
According to him, the convictions of two former senior officials demonstrate that no public servant is above the law, regardless of position or political influence.
He argued that the verdict also reinforced the independence of Liberia’s judiciary, noting that acquittals and convictions alike are signs that the courts are functioning properly under democratic principles. A major portion of the Minister’s statement focused on what he described as a landmark legal victory before the trial even began. He revealed that the defendants initially sought to block the proceedings through a writ of prohibition filed before the Supreme Court, arguing that the alleged transactions were protected under national security operations and presidential authority. However, the Justice Ministry and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission successfully challenged that argument before the Supreme Court, paving the way for the criminal trial to proceed.
Minister Tweh described the ruling as a historic precedent establishing that “national security” cannot be used as a blanket shield against investigations into missing public funds. “This case proved that former ministers and national security officials can be brought before a court of law,” he said. “No one is untouchable.”
The Justice Minister strongly defended the prosecution team led by Solicitor General Augustine C. Fayiah, praising their nearly two years of investigative and courtroom work. He disclosed that prosecutors presented eight witnesses and eighteen documentary exhibits, including transfer letters, Central Bank withdrawal records, and testimony from government budget officials confirming that the funds in question were allegedly moved outside Liberia’s approved national budget process.
Minister Tweh further alleged that evidence presented during the trial showed that over LD$1 billion and US$500,000 were transferred into the Financial Intelligence Agency’s operational accounts and later withdrawn in cash without any documented accounting or receipts.
He maintained that the government still believes the defendants “conspired and concocted an elaborate illegal scheme” to defraud the Liberian state.
At the same time, the Justice Minister acknowledged growing public concern over aspects of the trial and announced that the Ministry of Justice and the LACC would conduct an internal review of the case to identify lessons and improve future prosecutions. “This fight is a marathon, not a sprint,” he stated. “We learn from every case, and we move forward stronger.” Meanwhile, the two convicted defendants have already filed motions for a new trial. The Ministry of Justice has filed its resistance, and the court is expected to hear arguments before deciding whether to uphold the jury’s verdict or order another trial.
If the motions are denied, sentencing proceedings will follow, with the Justice Ministry promising to seek penalties that reflect “the gravity of the crimes” and deter future abuse of public office. Minister Tweh closed his remarks by reaffirming the commitment of President Joseph Boakai to the anti-corruption campaign, insisting that the administration will continue supporting independent investigations and prosecutions wherever the evidence leads. “Public service is a sacred trust,” the Justice Minister concluded. “Those who steal from the people will be pursued, exposed, and sooner or later, they will face justice.”
Author: Samuel B.Johnson
