Monrovia, Liberia- Supreme Court Justice-in-Chambers Yamie Quaqua Gbeisasy has temporarily suspended the high-profile trial of former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr., and his co-defendants, following a request from government lawyers for a petition for a writ of certiorari.
This move, which halts all proceedings in the case, came after mounting legal and political attention surrounding the case.
The directive, which was issued by Justice Gbeissay on December 3, 2024, instructed the presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’ A. Blamo Dixon to halt all proceedings in the matter until December 10, 2024, conference hearing at 10:00 a.m.
A notice from the Supreme Court, signed by chief Clerk Cllr. Sam Mamulu, summoned the parties involved to a conference with Justice Gbeisay, who will review the request for the writ of certiorari and determine the next steps.
“By directive of His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr., Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with His Honor on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the hour of 10:00 a.m. in connection with the above-captioned case. Meanwhile, you are ordered to stay all further proceedings and/or actions in the matter pending the outcome of the conference,” the notice reads.
Background of the Case:
The trial was set to resume on December 4, 2024, at the criminal court ‘C’ the presiding of Judge Dixon.
The defendants face allegations of corruption, including the siphoning of over LD$1 billion and US$500,000 during the defendants’ tenure in office.
Tweah, former Acting Justice Minister Cllr. Nyanti Tuan, former Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) officials D. Moses P. Cooper and Stanley S. Ford, and former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh face a range of serious charges, including economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, and misuse of public funds.
The defendants were indicted in September 2024 after a complaint filed by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which claims that they misappropriated substantial state resources while in office.
The case has been marked by significant legal hurdles. Judge Dixon of Criminal Court ‘C’ had previously set a 72-hour ultimatum for the government to present all relevant evidence.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and adhering to constitutional guarantees, including the right to reasonable bail for the defendants, except in cases of capital or severe offenses.
In a controversial ruling, Judge Dixon approved an LD$8 million surety bond for the defendants, despite objections from Montserrado County Attorney Richard J. Scott, who raised concerns over the legitimacy of the bond and alleged tax discrepancies with the property used.
Additionally, Judge Dixon denied the prosecution’s request to subpoena officials from the Liberia Revenue Authority, citing legal provisions from the Civil Procedure Law and Criminal Procedure Law.
The government’s request for a writ of prohibition to the Supreme Court has raised eyebrows among legal analysts, as it is seen as a rare move in Liberia’s legal system.
The writ seeks to have the Supreme Court review and potentially overrule Criminal Court ‘C’s recent rulings, including the bond approval and the denial of subpoenas.
This development has added further complexity to a case already fraught with controversy.
As the legal drama unfolds, the public remains keenly interested in the trial’s outcome, which has significant implications for Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts and the integrity of its judicial system.
Advocacy groups and legal experts are calling for fairness, transparency, and accountability in handling the case to preserve public confidence in the nation’s legal framework.
The upcoming conference with Justice Gbeisay on December 10 will determine whether the trial will proceed or if the Supreme Court will intervene further.
For now, the legal process remains on hold, and the nation awaits the next chapter in this landmark case.
Neither Samuel Tweah nor his legal team has commented publicly on the Supreme Court’s directive as of the latest updates.
