The presiding judge of Criminal Court “C,” Ousman F. Feika, has sentenced two senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to five years’ imprisonment each after they were found guilty of economic sabotage and related corruption offenses linked to the 2021 National Population and Housing Census.
In a final ruling delivered on Monday, February 16, 2026, Judge Feika affirmed a unanimous guilty verdict returned by the jury against Lawrence George, former Deputy Director General for Administration at LISGIS, and Dominic Paye, former Comptroller.
The case was prosecuted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) on behalf of the Republic of Liberia.
Charges and Convictions
The defendants were indicted on multiple counts, including economic sabotage — encompassing fraud on the revenue of Liberia, misuse of public money, and illegal disbursement of public funds-as well as misapplication of entrusted property, forgery and counterfeiting, unlawful rewarding of public servants, unlawful compensation for assistance in government matters, and criminal conspiracy.
The indictment stemmed from allegations that approximately US$1.795 million in government funding allocated to LISGIS between 2019 and 2022 for census-related activities could not be fully accounted for.
Prosecutors alleged that census funds were diverted, procurement procedures under the Public Procurement and Concessions Act were violated, and mandatory withholding taxes were not remitted to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
Central to the case were payments for the transport of 21,000 census tablets and accessories, the purchase of a used generator instead of a new one as budgeted, and the disbursement of per diem and other allowances to senior officials without proper documentation or adherence to established financial controls.
Judge: Jury Verdict Cannot Be Disturbed
In his ruling, Judge Feika emphasized that the court would not interfere with the jury’s assessment of the evidence.
“This Court answers in the affirmative and says that because none of the testimonies of the prosecution were rebutted by the defendants, those testimonies are regarded to be true,” Judge Feika said in open court.
He added that the jury had properly exercised its authority in weighing the evidence: “It is the duty of the empaneled jury to determine the probative value of the evidence and decide on their credibility in determining the greater weight of the evidence.”
The judge held that the unanimous verdict was “a clear manifestation of the fact that the jury properly examined the evidence produced by the parties during the trial and determined the probative value thereof,” and concluded that such a verdict “cannot be disturbed.”
Restitution and Sentence
The court ordered George and Paye to restitute US$97,000 to the Government of Liberia — the outstanding balance of US$128,198.64 that investigators determined could not be accounted for following the conclusion of the LACC investigation.
According to the ruling, three other defendants — including former LISGIS Director General Francis Wreh — had earlier conceded to the indictment and were ordered in December 2024 to pay a combined pro rata sum of US$30,898 into the government’s revenue account.
With the remaining balance unresolved, Judge Feika ruled that George and Paye were liable for the outstanding amount and must pay restitution in addition to serving custodial sentences.
“Consequently, the defendants are ordered to restitute the full amount of $97,000,” the judge declared. “Additionally… this Court will now proceed to sentence the defendants as follows: That the defendants are hereby sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each.”
Both men were ordered committed to the Monrovia Central Prison to serve their sentences.
Broader Anti-Corruption Efforts
The ruling is being viewed by legal observers as a significant development in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to combat public sector corruption, particularly in relation to the management of donor-supported national programs such as the census.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has in recent years intensified investigations into alleged financial misconduct across government ministries and agencies, increasingly relying on documentary evidence, financial audits, and witness testimony to secure convictions.
The defense had sought to challenge aspects of the prosecution’s case, including claims related to tax withholding and procurement approvals, but the court found those arguments insufficient to rebut the evidence presented.
Judge Feika signed and sealed the ruling at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on February 16, 2026, formally bringing the high-profile case to a close at the trial court level.
