MONROVIA–The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has indicated it is not yet done with former Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah, announcing it will invite him again after the objective of an earlier invitation was not actualized due to other administrative and security cliches.
AREPT, in a statement issued Thursday, stated that it will issue another invitation to Tweah as part of efforts to continue the investigation.
It has however clarified circumstances surrounding the departure of the former Minister Tweah from a scheduled investigative appearance at the institution’s headquarters in Monrovia.
AREPT confirmed that Tweah appeared before the Taskforce on May 21, 2026, in response to an invitation linked to an ongoing investigation into the alleged misapplication of about US$20.5 million intended for rice subsidy payments between September 2021 and October 2022.
“The investigation centers on allegations of theft of property, economic sabotage, misapplication of funds, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation tied to payments reportedly made by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to support rice price reduction on the local market,” the statement read.
AREPT disclosed that Tweah’s appearance followed an earlier request from his legal team seeking the rescheduling of his initial appearance before the institution. The Taskforce said it granted the request in keeping with due process and institutional cooperation.
However, AREPT stated that after Tweah arrived at its headquarters on Thursday, his lawyers later informed the Chairman of the Taskforce that they were leaving the premises because of concerns regarding procedural arrangements at the compound.
The Taskforce emphasized that its administrative and security procedures apply equally to all individuals invited for questioning, regardless of their status or former position in government.
“These procedures are intended to ensure order, professionalism, fairness, and due process throughout the conduct of investigations,” the statement noted.
AREPT further clarified that invitations issued by the institution are not intended to be confrontational, but are part of lawful investigative processes aimed at allowing individuals the opportunity to respond to allegations under review.
The institution announced that it will issue another invitation to Tweah as part of efforts to continue the investigation.
AREPT also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting investigations professionally and in accordance with Executive Order #161 and the laws of Liberia.
The statement concluded by assuring the public that all persons connected to ongoing investigations will be treated fairly and accorded full due process under the law.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing the legal interest of the former Finance minister have growled over what they termed as sustained efforts by the Liberian government to ‘politically persecute’ their client following his acquittal in a high-profile criminal trial, insisting that they only want to see him jailed at all cost.
The comment is seen as pinnacle of their frustration with what they see as an relentless undertaking by the government to ensure former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah is brought down to his knees.
Lead defense lawyer Arthur Johnson, at a major press conference in Monrovia, claimed that the government’s actions after the jury verdict amount to a “witch-hunt” intended to send Tweah to jail despite the outcome of the case.
“The Executive wants to see Samuel Tweah go to jail,” Johnson declared, while criticizing ongoing efforts by the court to investigate allegations of jury misconduct after the jury had already been discharged.
Tweah and several former government officials had faced charges including money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation. However, Johnson said the jury returned a verdict clearing Tweah of all charges.
According to the lawyer, the jury’s decision followed all legal procedures required under Liberian law. He explained that after the verdict was read in open court, jurors were individually polled by the judge and confirmed that the verdict represented their collective decision.
“The verdict was recorded and immediately our clients became free men under the law,” Johnson said.
He argued that once the jury was formally discharged, the court no longer had jurisdiction over the jurors and could not later reopen proceedings to investigate alleged jury tampering or misconduct.
Johnson maintained that neither the prosecution nor the defense raised any concerns about jury misconduct before the jury was discharged. He said the prosecution itself thanked the jurors for their constitutional service and requested that they be released.
The defense team is now challenging the court’s subsequent investigation into alleged jury tampering. Johnson disclosed that the defense has filed a petition for a writ of prohibition before the Supreme Court seeking to halt the investigation.
He accused the court of violating constitutional due process by conducting proceedings in camera, or behind closed doors, while denying lawyers access to details of the allegations.
“We are all subjects of the investigation, but we are not being allowed to hear the accusations or participate in the process,” Johnson argued.
The defense lawyer further alleged that public servants who served on the jury are now being pressured in their workplaces because of the verdict delivered in the case.
Johnson warned that such actions could undermine Liberia’s democracy and revive what he described as “the dark days” of political intimidation in the country.
“This is not just about Samuel Tweah,” he said. “This is about the rule of law, due process, and protecting Liberia’s democracy.”
While praising the trial judge for professionally handling the original trial proceedings, Johnson insisted that the current investigation exceeds the court’s legal authority.
He urged the Supreme Court to intervene and clarify the legal issues surrounding the case.
“We don’t want favors from the Supreme Court,” Johnson stated. “We only want the law to speak.”
The press conference ended with the defense reiterating that the jury’s not-guilty verdict remains valid and cannot legally be overturned through what they described as politically motivated actions.
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