TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia – The presiding judge in the high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and four others has reserved ruling on a motion to dismiss the indictment until Friday, February 28, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Criminal Court “C” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie announced the decision following heated legal arguments for and against the motion, which was filed by the defense team. The jury selection process remains on hold until the motion is resolved.
During proceedings, the judge reprimanded the prosecution for failing to serve its resistance to the defense team in a timely manner. He threatened to impose a fine but later accepted the prosecution’s apology.
Defense Argues Immunity for Defendants
The motion to dismiss, filed by Tweah’s legal team, contends that he and his co-defendants were operating within the scope of their official duties as members of the National Security Council (NSC) and should therefore be shielded from prosecution. The defendants include:
- Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, former Acting Minister of Justice and Attorney General
- Stanley S. Ford, former Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
- Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Adviser to former President George Weah
- D. Moses P. Cooper, former FIU Controller
They are accused of withdrawing US$500,000 from the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) for IT equipment procurement but allegedly failing to account for the funds. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Ministry of Justice initiated the case following an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Prosecution Asserts Case Falls Within Court’s Jurisdiction
The prosecution, in its resistance, argued that the motion to dismiss is legally flawed and should be denied. Citing Chapter 16, Subsection 16.7 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, prosecutors maintained that a motion to dismiss should be filed before a defendant enters a plea. Since the accused had already pleaded and invoked their right to a jury trial, the prosecution argued that they had waived their right to seek dismissal of the indictment.
Additionally, the prosecution insisted that the court has subject matter jurisdiction over economic sabotage, theft of property, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy—charges properly brought against the defendants. The government lawyers also rejected the defense’s claim of immunity, asserting that no individual is above the law if a crime has been committed.
“The law is unequivocally clear that the motion to dismiss must be filed before a plea is entered. Since the Movants have pleaded and joined issues with the State, they have suffered waiver and cannot now attempt to cure that defect,” the prosecution argued in court.
The prosecution further dismissed the defendants’ reliance on secrecy provisions within the National Security Reform and Intelligence Act of 2011, arguing that such provisions do not shield individuals from prosecution for crimes committed while in public office.
Judge Willie is expected to rule on the motion this Friday, setting the stage for a crucial decision that could determine whether the case proceeds to trial or is dismissed outright. Meanwhile, legal analysts say the case could serve as a major test of Liberia’s judicial commitment to combating corruption.
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