By Jamesetta D. Williams
Monrovia-What happened with the Saudi Arabia donated rice is at the center of the ongoing trial involving some former officials of government as the prosecution has rested its case after 31 days of jury sittings, with the defense beginning the presentation of its witnesses Friday, September 18, 2026.
The case centers on allegations surrounding the handling and distribution of 29,412 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023 for disaster-affected and vulnerable communities in Liberia.
During the prosecution’s presentation, several witnesses testified about the movement and distribution of the rice, including former Foreign Minister D. Maxwell Saah Kemayah’s alleged involvement in decisions concerning the commodity.
John Kumeh, a police investigator, testified that Kemayah played a key role in decisions that preceded the transfer of the rice from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to the General Services Agency (GSA).
According to Kumeh, Kemayah negotiated with Saudi Arabia for the donation, which resulted in 29,412 bags of rice being delivered to Liberia. The rice was valued at approximately US$500,000.
Kumeh told the court that Kemayah later instructed the NDMA to halt distribution after reports emerged that some of the donated rice was allegedly being sold on the market.
The former Foreign Minister subsequently established an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations, Kumeh said.
The investigator testified that the committee did not establish that the rice had been sold but recommended that the remaining rice at the NDMA be transferred to the GSA.
Following the recommendation, 13,895 bags were transferred from the NDMA to the GSA, which already had 11,200 bags. The combined stock at the GSA therefore reached 25,095 bags.
Investigators said 41 bags could not be accounted for during the transfer.
The prosecution alleges that the transfer of the rice became a key point in the subsequent alleged diversion of the commodity from its intended purpose.
Kumeh also told the court that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not a statutory member of the NDMA board, raising questions about its authority in decisions concerning the donated rice.
Isaac K. Weede, chairman of the Lakpazee Community, denied that the community received any of the Saudi-donated rice from the NDMA.
Weede told Criminal Court “C” that no rice was delivered to the community, which was among the disaster-affected areas identified as a beneficiary of the donation.
His testimony also raised questions about an alleged shipment of 5,000 bags reportedly intended for Gbarnga.
However, during cross-examination, Weede acknowledged that Lakpazee consists of seven blocks with decentralized leadership.
He further acknowledged that donations could have been delivered directly to block leaders before reaching the central community leadership.
Ansu Dolley, the current head of the NDMA, also testified about information and records he inherited from his predecessor concerning the Saudi rice.
Another NDMA-related witness testified that he personally received or facilitated only 280 bags as the largest single donation he was directly involved with.
According to the witness, 80 bags went to Zota District, while another 200 bags were distributed in Gbarnga.
When questioned about how he could say that 5,000 bags were not sent to the Gbarnga regional hub, the witness responded, “Because I was there.”
The defense subsequently questioned the extent of his personal knowledge of the broader distribution network and whether his direct involvement covered all rice movements connected to the alleged 5,000-bag shipment.
In April 2023, Saudi Arabia donated 29,412 bags of 25-kilogram rice, valued at approximately US$500,000, to the Government of Liberia to assist disaster-affected people and vulnerable communities.
The rice was received through arrangements involving Saudi humanitarian assistance and was placed in government-managed warehouses.
According to the indictment, the rice was distributed among three warehouses: 11,200 bags at a GSA warehouse, 12,292 bags at one NDMA warehouse, and 5,920 bags at another NDMA warehouse.
The Liberia Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) later investigated the matter.
The prosecution alleges that former government officials interfered with the normal distribution process and that 25,054 of the 29,412 bags were diverted, improperly distributed, or otherwise misappropriated.
The indictment places the alleged value of the 25,054 bags at approximately US$425,918.
With the prosecution having completed its case, the defense has now begun presenting its witnesses and is expected to challenge the evidence and allegations presented by the state.
The trial continues as the defense begins its case before Criminal Court “C.
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