Presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’ Osuman F. Feikai on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, ordered the imprisonment of all 15 jurors who served in the US$6.2 million economic sabotage case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., D. Moses Cooper and several co-defendants after an investigation found they violated Liberia’s jury law.
On May 8, 2026, the jury returned a mixed verdict in the case. Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and D. Moses Cooper were acquitted and cleared of all charges, while some of the remaining defendants were convicted and others received hung verdicts.
Following weeks of investigation, the court found that members of the jury violated Liberia’s jury law while they were sequestered during the trial.
According to the court’s findings, several jurors possessed and used mobile phones while under sequestration, in violation of the law.
The investigation also established that some jurors discussed the case before formal deliberations began, raising serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the proceedings.
Judge Feikai ordered the immediate arrest of all 15 jurors who were present in court and directed that they be remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison pending further legal proceedings.
The investigation was launched after three jurors filed a complaint following the conclusion of the trial.
As part of the inquiry, the court subpoenaed telephone records from Orange Liberia and Lonestar MTN. The records showed that several jurors communicated with people outside the jury quarters while the trial was still in progress.
Although the court dismissed allegations of an alleged romantic relationship between a defense lawyer and the jury forelady for lack of evidence, it ruled that the proven violations were sufficient to compromise the integrity of the trial.
Based on those findings, the court set aside the acquittals of Tweah and Cooper and ordered a new trial. The convictions and hung verdicts involving the other defendants remain subject to the court’s ruling.
Lead defense lawyer Cllr. Arthur Johnson objected to the decision and announced that the defense would appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
One of the 15 jurors has publicly admitted guilt while en route to the Monrovia Central Prison.
“I’m satisfied with the ruling, because I’m guilty. Yes, I was tampered with.”
Following the ruling, Tweah reacted in a Facebook post, describing the decision as a setback for justice and democracy.
He maintained that his acquittal remains valid and said he would not participate in any proceedings before the Supreme Court.
“Today, Liberian justice and democracy took a gigantic step backwards, but men are prepared to resist this slide into anarchy. No judge, no justice and no President can ever change my NOT GUILTY verdict. It is etched in the history of our country. The ruling handed down today is a kangaroo ruling. I have instructed my legal team that my legal journey ended with my verdict, and I will not submit myself to any Supreme Court process. We have left the law and are now in the full realm of politics. I remain a free man,” Tweah wrote.
