Brunson Testimony Weakens Prosecution Case-In Tweah et al Trial

MONROVIA – The ongoing trial of former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah took a dramatic turn this week as a key government witness delivered testimony that appears to have weakened the prosecution’s central claims.

Deputy Finance Minister for Budget Tanneh Brunson, whose earlier statement to investigators had been relied upon heavily by state prosecutors, told the court she never characterized a controversial L$1.05 billion and US$500,000 transaction as “illegal.”

Under cross-examination, defense lawyers pressed lead investigator Baba Borkai on the basis of his conclusions, highlighting that Brunson’s original statement to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission did not explicitly allege wrongdoing. The revelation cast doubt on the prosecution’s narrative that the transaction in question violated public financial management laws.

Taking the stand, Brunson acknowledged that she had no prior knowledge of the transaction, explaining that it did not pass through the conventional budgetary allotment process. However, she stopped short of condemning the move as unlawful. Instead, she told the court that such direct debit transactions are “technically possible,” particularly during emergencies or national crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her testimony directly challenges the prosecution’s assertion that all government expenditures must rigidly adhere to established allotment procedures, suggesting that exceptions may exist under extraordinary circumstances.

The courtroom drama intensified further when Central Bank witness Theophilus Lamin came under sharp scrutiny from defense attorneys. Lamin faced tough questioning over inconsistencies in his account of events, particularly regarding his alleged role in handling the substantial funds at the center of the case.

Defense counsel sought to undermine his credibility by questioning the practicality of a single individual managing such a large sum. In a moment that briefly lightened the tense atmosphere, lawyers illustrated the magnitude of the amount by comparing it to 25 bags of 100-kilogram rice—an analogy that drew audible laughter from those in attendance.

Legal observers say the prosecution’s case may be faltering under the weight of its own witnesses, as testimonies increasingly introduce uncertainty rather than clarity. Of particular note are emerging suggestions that the funds in question could have been tied to sensitive national security operations, a practice some analysts argue is not unprecedented within government financial systems.

With the prosecution nearing the close of its case, momentum appears to be shifting toward the defense. All eyes are now on the next phase of the trial, where Tweah’s legal team is expected to present its own witnesses in what is shaping up to be a closely watched legal battle with significant political and institutional implications.