The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) says the scheduled prosecution of the high-profile US$500,000 Saudi Rice Case has been temporarily suspended following a writ of prohibition issued by the Supreme Court of Liberia.
According to the Taskforce, the writ was filed by Co-Defendant Thelma Duncan Sawyer and her legal team, and subsequently granted by Justice in Chambers, Her Honor Jamesetta H. Wolokollie, effectively putting the trial on hold.
AREPT disclosed that it had completed all necessary preparations for the case, including the organization of evidentiary materials and securing witnesses expected to testify on behalf of the Republic of Liberia.
The trial was slated to begin on Friday, November 14, 2025, marking a key step in prosecuting those accused of misappropriating rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for victims of national disasters in Liberia.
However, the Supreme Court’s intervention has placed a stay on the proceedings until a conference scheduled for December 2, 2025, can be convened to address the matter.
In a statement issued Wednesday, AREPT emphasized that the temporary suspension will not affect its broader mission to identify, trace, and recover stolen or suspicious government assets.
“The Taskforce remains resolute, strong, and unwavering in ensuring that justice is served in this and all other cases under its jurisdiction,” the statement read.
AREPT reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, assuring the Liberian people that all individuals implicated in the Saudi Rice Case and other corruption-related investigations will face prosecution despite procedural delays.
Meanwhile, the Taskforce continues to investigate several former and current government officials accused of theft of public property and the accumulation of unexplained wealth.
