By Precious D. Freeman
The jury selection process in the trial of former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah and four other ex-officials has hit a standstill, as all prospective jurors summoned for screening have been rejected.
Concerns over personal relationships between potential jurors and key defendants, particularly Tweah and former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, have made it difficult to form a neutral panel.
The Jury Management Team had called groups of five jurors at a time, but nearly all were dismissed by attorneys from both the prosecution and defense.
With only one potential juror remaining from the original list, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie ruled that the court could not proceed under such circumstances.
He has since ordered the Jury Management Department to summon 26 additional jurors to supplement the lone remaining candidate, bringing the total to 27 for further screening in the next court session.
Due to these delays, Judge Willie adjourned the proceedings until Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
He further noted that today’s court minutes will serve as an official notice of assignment for all parties involved.
Meanwhile, Judge Willie issued an arrest warrant for a juror identified as an Assistant Director for Gender at the National Bureau of Concessions.
The juror, bearing ID number J30-9131, failed to appear in court on March 3 without providing justification.
The judge directed the Clerk of Court to issue a writ of arrest, requiring the juror to appear before the court on March 5 to explain the absence. Failure to do so could result in a 14-day jail term or a US$100 fine.
