By By: The People News
Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah walked free Friday after a 12-member jury acquitted him on all counts in Liberia’s blockbuster US$6.2 million economic sabotage trial.
Tweah and four ex-officials faced charges of criminal conspiracy, theft of property, money laundering, and criminal facilitation tied to L$1.055 billion and US$500,000 in disputed joint-security transfers. Prosecutors had demanded conviction, telling jurors to “bring them down guilty for stealing the Liberian people’s money.”
The defense called the case a test of democracy, urging jurors that a not-guilty verdict would “protect the lives of future generations.”
The case began after state auditors flagged transfers made under the former Weah administration for national security operations. The government alleged the funds were diverted without proper authorization, filing an indictment for economic sabotage — one of Liberia’s most serious post-war corruption charges.
The trial, held at Criminal Court “C”, ran for weeks with heated testimony. Former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh emerged as a key figure, with his role in the transactions heavily debated in court.
The case drew national attention as a landmark test of accountability for former high-ranking officials. With Tweah now acquitted on all counts charged in the indictment, the verdict closes one of Liberia’s most closely watched corruption trials in years.
