“Gimmicks, Delay Tactics!” -Legal Pundit Describes Prosecution Failure to Adduce Evidence

MONROVIA – With hearing set for today in continuance of the criminal case involving the Republic of Liberia versus former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and others charged with multiple crimes, including economic sabotage, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, pundits see as mere gimmicks and delay tactics the petition for a Writ of Certiorari filed by state prosecutors citing the accused respondents to a conference with Associate Supreme Court Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay on December 10, 2024 at 10 am.

“Delay gimmicks and tactics continue in this case. The prosecution is unable to produce evidence and has filed a writ to prevent Judge Blamoh Dixon from hearing the case. Justice in chambers has called for hearing on 10th December,” a concerned legal luminary told Analyst late yesterday evening.

“In most cases the Government does not run to the Supreme Court. It is usually the defense that does. Strange things are happening.

“They have filed a Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court. This is a Writ meant to review the decisions of a lower court. In this instance, they want a review of Judge Blamoh Dixon’s ruling on the bond issue. With a hearing possibly scheduled for December 10, the Government of Liberia lawyers will push to have the judge removed from the case.

“I don’t know how the removal of the judge helps them to get the evidence they do not have and have failed to present. This writ is usually not filed by the State!” stated the legal scholar in an exasperated manner.

It can be recalled that former Finance Minister Tweah returned to the country and surrendered himself to Criminal Court ‘C’ on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 where he was served an indictment.

Former Minister Tweah, along with ex-National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, former Solicitor-General Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, D. Moses P. Cooper, former Acting Financial Controller of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and Stanley S. Ford former Director General FIA, were charged with multiple crimes, including economic sabotage, fraud, and criminal conspiracy.

Tweah, whom many had thought was set to evade the investigation by staying out of the country, majestically walked in the premises of the Temple of Justice in apparent surrender. The Court granted him an $8 million bail, setting his trial for November 12, 2024.

The indictments of the officials of the former ruling CDC stem from an investigation by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) which accuses the former officials of orchestrating a scheme that diverted over L$1 billion and US$500,000 from the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).

These funds, meant for national security and financial oversight, reportedly disappeared under dubious circumstances between September 8 and 21, 2023.

But, during Wednesday pre-trial hearing lawyers representing the former officials headed by Cllr Arthur Johnson made a submission on the minutes of court, asserting that the bail bond is backed by Chapter 13 of the criminal procedure law.

Following the defense lawyers’ submission, the prosecution lawyers headed by Montserrado County Attorney Richards Scott interposed no objection and said that the charges levied against the defendants are billable before the law

For his part Criminal Court C” Judge A. Blamo Dixon granted the defense lawyers’ bail in keeping with the criminal procedure law and the constitution of 1986.