Jury Acquits Tweah in $6.2M Economic Sabotage Case

Monrovia —Jurors at Criminal Court’C’ on Friday acquitted former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and his co-defendant of economic sabotage and five related charges, finding that prosecutors failed to prove the men illegally diverted $6.2 million in national security funds during the 2023 elections.

Criminal Court “C” returned the not guilty verdict after weeks of testimony, legal arguments and cross-examinations in one of Liberia’s most closely watched corruption trials in recent years.

Tweah and former FIA Comptroller D. Moses P. Cooper had faced charges of economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation and misuse of public funds. Prosecutors alleged the two officials — both members of former President George Weah’s administration — withdrew and disbursed the funds for purposes beyond their authorized scope.

Defense lawyers maintained throughout the trial that the money was authorized for national security operations and processed through established state security channels. They argued the prosecution presented no evidence that either defendant personally converted the funds for private use.
The jury agreed.

As the verdict was read, supporters of the defendants erupted in celebration outside the Temple of Justice, while family members and political allies embraced the acquitted officials inside the courtroom.