In a significant development in the ongoing corruption trial of several former high-ranking officials from the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration, Judge A. Blamo Dixon of Criminal Court ‘C’ has given the Government of Liberia a 72-hour deadline to submit all evidence in the case.
The former officials, including ex-Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., are facing corruption charges, including economic sabotage, money laundering, and misuse of public funds.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, mandates that the government provide the evidence to the defense counsels to allow them adequate time to prepare their case in accordance with Liberia’s criminal procedure laws.
The judge’s decision came after a contentious legal debate over the US$8 million criminal appearance bond filed by Tweah and his co-defendants.
The former officials, who also include Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, former acting Minister of Justice; Stanley A. Ford, former Director General of the Financial Intelligence Unit; D. Moses P. Cooper, former Financial Intelligence Comptroller; and Jefferson Karmon, former National Security Advisor, are accused of various financial crimes, including theft, illegal fund disbursement, and criminal conspiracy.
During the hearing, Cllr. Richard J. Scott, Montserrado County Attorney and prosecutor, raised objections to the bond filed by the defense, claiming the property used as collateral was not tax compliant under the Liberia Revenue Code. He questioned the validity of the bond and pointed out discrepancies, including the use of a single identification number for two properties and a lack of recognition of the property by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). Cllr. Scott also requested that the LRA Director General or a representative testify to the property’s value, but Judge Dixon rejected the request.
Despite the legal challenges, Judge Dixon upheld the bond, citing Liberia’s Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure laws and the 1986 Constitution, which grants defendants the right to bail.
The decision means that Tweah and his co-defendants will remain free pending the trial’s outcome.
The case, which has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused officials, continues to unfold, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
