BREAKING: Samuel Tweh Fully Acquitted, Cleared of All Charges

Monrovia Liberia: Former Liberian Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. has been acquitted and found not guilty on all criminal charges brought against him in the high-profile economic sabotage case.

The court cleared Tweah of all allegations, including:

▪️ Economic Sabotage — NOT GUILTY
▪️ Theft of Property — NOT GUILTY
▪️ Money Laundering — NOT GUILTY
▪️ Criminal Facilitation — NOT GUILTY

At the Temple of Justice on Friday, May 8, jurors at Criminal Court “C” delivered a major setback to the Liberian government by acquitting former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and several former officials on most of the serious charges in a widely publicized economic sabotage case. Many observers described the outcome as a significant embarrassment for state prosecutors after months of intense legal proceedings and political debate surrounding allegations involving more than L$1 billion and US$500,000 connected to government security accounts.

The case involved former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr., former Acting Justice Minister and Solicitor General Nyanti Tuan, former FIA Director General Stanley S. Ford, former FIA Comptroller D. Moses P. Cooper, and former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh.

The jury cleared Tweah of all charges, including economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy. Cooper was also acquitted on all counts. Karmoh was found not guilty of economic sabotage, theft, and money laundering but convicted of criminal conspiracy and criminal facilitation. Tuan was acquitted of economic sabotage but convicted of theft, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy. Ford was convicted of economic sabotage and criminal facilitation but cleared of money laundering.

The verdict seriously weakened the government’s claim that officials from former President George Weah’s administration had organized a large-scale scheme involving public and security funds. Although some convictions were secured, the acquittal of Tweah viewed as the key defendant  and the dismissal of several major charges against others represented a major defeat for prosecutors.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the defendants illegally transferred and used public funds through Financial Intelligence Agency and national security accounts. Defense lawyers countered that the transactions were lawful national security expenditures approved under executive authority. They also argued that prosecutors failed to prove that any defendant personally stole money, redirected funds for private use, or benefited unlawfully.

During closing arguments, defense attorneys claimed the prosecution was politically motivated and aimed at criminalizing standard administrative and security procedures after a change in political leadership.

Legal observers noted that prosecutors struggled to directly link the accused to theft or personal enrichment. Much of the government’s case reportedly focused on procedural issues, accounting concerns, and documentation related to confidential security spending.

The ruling has fueled public debate in Liberia over whether anti-corruption institutions are being used for political purposes. Earlier in the case, defense lawyers challenged aspects of the prosecution before the Supreme Court, though the trial was allowed to continue.

Following the verdict, supporters of the former officials celebrated outside Criminal Court “C,” viewing the outcome as both a legal victory and a rejection of what they considered a politically driven campaign against members of the former administration.

The decision is expected to intensify national discussions about selective justice, prosecutorial independence, and the credibility of Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts. Attention will now turn to sentencing for those convicted on certain charges, while prosecutors face growing scrutiny over the collapse of much of the government’s high-profile case. For those acquitted, the verdict represents a major political and legal recovery after months of allegations and courtroom battles.