Tweah Acquitted  -As 3 others convicted

MONROVIA – The high-profile economic sabotage trial involving former government officials has finally reached a dramatic conclusion at Criminal Court “C.” In a split decision that has stirred both celebration and debate, the court handed down an acquittal for Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., the former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, while simultaneously convicting three other defendants in the $6 million case. While supporters of Tweah took to the streets in jubilation, hailing the verdict as a total “victory” over what they termed political persecution, the Boakai administration has welcomed the court’s decision with a different perspective. Government spokespersons stated that the outcome is a powerful indication that the Rule of Law—a central pillar of President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda—is taking deep root in Liberian society. Emphasizing that the judicial process must be respected regardless of the individual outcome, the government assured citizens that the court remains the “last hope of the common man,” proving that the justice system can function independently to hold the powerful to account. The Analyst Reports.

The proximity of the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia erupted into a wide jubilation, turning it into a political carnival when the jurors at the court turned in a unanimous acquittal verdict in favor of Mr. Samuel D. Tweah, Jr, former Minister of Finance and Development Planning in the widely publicized US$6.2 million economic sabotage case, bringing to a dramatic close one of the country’s most politically charged prosecutions in recent months. The case, which centered on allegations of economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, had placed Tweah, one of the most senior officials of the former administration, at the center of an intense legal and political battle. The charges stemmed from the alleged transfer of more than US$6.2 million linked to national security expenditures and the Financial Intelligence Agency.

Background to the Trial

The legal battle began in 2024 when the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission launched an investigation into the alleged unauthorized transfer of over US$6.2 million and more than L$1 billion from government accounts at the Central Bank of Liberia to accounts associated with the Financial Intelligence Agency under the guise of national security operations. Following months of investigation, a Montserrado County Grand Jury indicted five former officials of the previous administration.

Those indicted alongside Tweah included, Nyanti Tuan, former Acting Minister of Justice and Solicitor General; Stanley S. Ford, former Director General of the FIA; D. Moses P. Cooper, former FIA Comptroller and Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor to President George Weah.

The indictment charged the accused with economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation, misuse of public money, and criminal conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants knowingly orchestrated the movement of public funds outside established public financial management procedures, using national security as a cover for the transactions.

The legal process became even more dramatic when the defense initially challenged the jurisdiction of Criminal Court “C” and argued that the transactions were protected under executive authority related to national security operations. However, the Supreme Court of Liberia later dismissed the immunity argument and ordered the matter returned to trial for full litigation, clearing the way for formal criminal proceedings to resume at Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia.

The Verdict

In delivering its final judgment, the court first cleared former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., the principal accused in the matter, of all charges brought against him, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish criminal culpability beyond reasonable doubt on any of the counts contained in the indictment. The verdict was immediately received with celebration by supporters of the former minister, who had consistently maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. A supporter of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC.)

The court also found D. Moses P. Cooper, former Comptroller of the Financial Intelligence Agency, not guilty of all charges, concluding that the state failed to sufficiently connect him to any criminal intent or unlawful diversion of public resources.

However, the breaking down of the verdict on former Acting Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Nyanti Tuan guilty showed that he was found guilty for theft of public funds, criminal facilitation and theft of property while he was found innocent for economic sabotage and there was a hung money laundering.

Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor to President George Weah, was also found guilty for criminal facilitation and conspiracy, while he was not found guilty for economic sabotage and theft of property but got a hung verdict on theft of property.

Likewise, former Director General of the Financial Intelligence Agency, Stanley S. Ford, got a hung verdict for all the charges levied against him.

Tweah, who has been the key figure in the case did not speak to the press on the day of his acquittal and he has not issued any statement after he was left off the hook. However, late evening, he posted on Facebook account, a short piece, praising God for seeing him throughout the trial

“A jury of my peers has set me free of all charges! To God Almighty be this GLORY! To him alone!”, he said.