Ex-Finance Minister Samuel Tweah Acquitted Jurors Found Him Not Guilty Of All Charges
Monrovia- Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah has been acquitted by an Eleven-man Jurors following several hours of deliberations.
Tweah and few other former officials of government are being trial since March of last year on several counts of indictment, including criminal facilitation, theft of property, money laundering and economic sabotage.
Delivering their verdict Thursday at the close of hours-long final presentations by the defense and prosecution teams, Jurors came out with not guilty of all counts verdictagainstTweah and former FIA Comptroller Moses Cooper.
By virtue of the verdict, Tweah is a free man, with privilege to move in and out of the country – something he couldn’t do due to a non-publicexeca prayed for by the government.
The acquittal contrased social media chatter suggesting otherwise.
Rhe US$6.2 million economic sabotage case against him and four co-defendants had been active at Criminal Court ‘C’.
Tweah, along with former Acting Justice Minister Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, ex-FIA Director Stanley S. Ford, former FIA Controller D. Moses P. Cooper, and former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, were indicted in 2024 for allegedly authorizing the transfer of L$1,055,152,540 and US$500,000 from the Central Bank of Liberia into operational accounts of the Financial Intelligence Agency in September 2023.
Prosecutors from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission say the funds were withdrawn the same day and “are still unaccounted for”. Charges include economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, and criminal facilitation. 2fd3d15f
During the trial, the defense argued the transfers were for national security and covered by the National Security Reform and Intelligence Act of 2011, claiming immunity as members of the National Security Council.
The Supreme Court rejected that in February 2026, ruling that presidential immunity “is personal to the President and cannot be invoked by subordinates”. The case was sent back to Criminal Court ‘C’ to proceed.
Tweah took the stand April 22, 2026, denying all allegations. He said prosecutors “failed to present credible or convincing evidence” and that, as finance minister, he had broad authority over urgent or security-related spending.
Recent reports suggest the prosecution’s case has faced challenges.
During cross-examination, the LACC’s lead investigator Baba Mohammed Boika testified that his inquiry “did not extend to how the funds were spent, concentrating instead on identifying recipient institutions”.
Legal analysts following the trial say the prosecution has shifted focus toward accountability questions after its initial argument that Tweah lacked authority was “significantly weakened”. f6f7
The case has been highly politicized, with governance advocates calling it a “litmus test for Liberia’s anti-corruption resolve” and supporters of the accused calling it politically motivated
Delays at the Supreme Court and conflicting narratives about evidence have fueled speculation.
Criminal Court ‘C’ has full jurisdiction after the Supreme Court cleared immunity hurdles.
Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah said in February that the state intends to move “aggressively” and predicted “one of the shortest trials currently pending”.
Stanley Forh, former Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency. Cllr. Nyantee Tuahn, former Solicitor General, Mr. Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor to President George Weah all found guilty.
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