Testimony in the ongoing trial involving former government officials over the alleged mismanagement of Saudi Arabia-donated rice took a new turn Tuesday, September 15, when a former National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) volunteer told Criminal Court “C” that he knew of no delivery of 5,000 bags of rice to the agency’s regional hub in Gbarnga.
The witness, whose name was not stated in the portion of the court minutes reviewed, told the court that he began volunteering with the NDMA in 2022 and helped distribute relief rice to disaster victims in Bong County.
During questioning by the prosecution, he said rice was delivered to communities affected by disasters but denied that 5,000 bags had reached the Gbarnga regional hub.
“So, I started 2022, volunteering for NDMA. The witness testified. There were no 5000 bags sent to Gbarnga to the regional hub. We were using MOT office there was no storage, later we moved to regional hub,” he testified in open court.
He explained that during his volunteer service, relief supplies were delivered to communities affected by disasters in Zota District and Gbarnga.
According to his testimony, 80 bags of rice were taken to a disaster-affected area in Zota District, while another 200 bags were distributed in communities in Gbarnga.
He, among other things said the affected communities included Civil Compound, Frog Island and Brooklyn.
The witness told the court that he collected information on disaster victims and forwarded it to his superiors in Monrovia before the rice was sent for distribution.
Asked by a defense lawyer how he knew that 5,000 bags of rice had not reached the regional hub, the witness answered: “Because I was there.”
The prosecution objected to the question, but Judge Ousman F. Feika overruled the objection and ordered the witness to answer.
The witness also told jurors that the highest single donation of rice he received at the Gbarnga regional hub while serving as a county focal person was 280 bags.
Asked how many bags he received from the NDMA between 2022 and 2023, he again answered: “280 bags of rice.”
Lakpazee Chairman Denies Receiving Rice
The court also heard testimony from Isaac K. Weede, chairman of Lakpazee Community in Sinkor, Monrovia, who denied that the community had received rice from the disaster management authorities.
Weede, who said he had lived in Lakpazee for more than 40 years, testified that investigators from the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) had questioned him about relief supplies allegedly delivered to the community.
He told the court that he had informed investigators that no rice had been received.
“I told them no because as human being, you must protect your character and integrity,” Weede testified.
He added: “At no time and point, to the best of my knowledge, that any rice came to Lakpazee Community that was given by disaster commission or to any other person. I don’t know, no rice came there at all from disaster commission.”
During cross-examination, Weede confirmed a written statement he had given to investigators.
The statement, read in court, said: “I the undersign in person of Isaac Weede have never receive any bag(s) of rice from Saudi Arabia donated rice in my community on the community behalf nor anyone from my community to my knowledge.”
Weede confirmed the statement when asked whether he stood by its contents.
Chairman Explains Community Distribution Process
Weede told the court that Lakpazee has seven blocks, each with its own leader, and said community leaders normally meet to discuss the distribution of donations.
He maintained that any rice delivered for the community would not be distributed without his knowledge.
“If and only if, the rice was actually being given to Lakpazee Community, and the distribution would have been broad and not hidden distribution,” he testified.
He also said the community had written to the disaster commission about house fires and other emergencies but had not received relief.
“We do write the disaster commission, all the letter we have been writing about house burning and all of that, they never give us any relief,” Weede told the court.
However, he acknowledged that donations had sometimes been received by individual block leaders before he was informed.
He cited rice and other items donated by Instant Believer Church as an example, saying the block leader informed him and they later distributed the supplies together.
Court Excuses Thelma Sawyer for Medical Examination
Meanwhile, Judge Feika granted a request for co-defendant Thelma Sawyer to be absent from court on Thursday, September 17, to undergo medical examinations.
Her lawyer told the court that Sawyer’s physician had recommended a series of examinations, including an X-ray and ultrasound, based on her medical history.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that it was not supported by medical documents.
Prosecutors told the court that the request should be backed by documentation from a recognized medical practitioner, including information about the treatment and the period required.
The court, however, ruled that the request fell within the scope of Section 2.4, subsection 2, of the Criminal Procedure Law, which addresses the effect of a defendant’s brief voluntary absence on the continuation of a trial.
Judge Feika said the request was for a short period and that Sawyer was not seeking to leave Liberia.
The court granted the request on the condition that a written application be submitted and made part of the proceedings. The prosecution excepted to the ruling.
Trial Continues
The case involves former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former NDMA officials and other defendants facing charges that include theft of property, economic sabotage, misuse of public money or records, illegal disbursement of public funds, misapplication of entrusted property, abuse of office and criminal conspiracy.
The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
The trial was continued to Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., according to the court minutes.
The proceedings are being heard before Judge Ousman F. Feika during the August Term of Court.
