By Precious D. Freeman
The Monrovia City Court, presided over by Stipendiary Magistrate L. Ben Barco, has rejected a criminal appearance bond of US$12 million issued by Sky International Insurance Company in corruption case of former President George Weah’s corrupt officials.
The bond had been filed for several defendants, including former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, who remains at large and the court’s rejection stemmed from the fact that Samuel Tweah, one of the principal defendants, has not yet surrendered himself to the authorities.
According to Liberian legal procedures, a defendant must first submit to a writ of arrest before being eligible for bail. Consequently, Judge Barco ruled that Tweah cannot be granted bail at this time.
However, Judge Barco granted the temporary release of the three other arrested defendants involved in the case: former Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh, former Solicitor General Nyenati Tuan, and former FIA Comptroller Moses Cooper.
However, these individuals were released under a new surety bond that does not include Tweah’s name.
The case involves serious charges, including economic sabotage, theft, and misuse of public funds, criminal facilitation, and conspiracy, linked to a US$6.2 million scandal.
The prosecution, led by the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), alleges that the defendants were part of a scheme to defraud the government of Liberia.
In addition to Tweah, other key defendants in the case include Stanley S. Ford, former Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), and Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor.
The charges are related to allegations that the defendants orchestrated unauthorized transfers of L$1,055,145,040 and US$500,000 from the Central Bank of Liberia, intended for personal use.
The court’s decision to reject the initial bond and approve a new one for the three released defendants reflects ongoing judicial scrutiny in a high-stakes case aimed at tackling corruption at the highest levels of government.
The Ministry of Justice and LACC are convicted that the conspiracy severely impacts the economic stability and integrity of the Liberian government, underscoring the importance of restoring accountability.
As Tweah and Ford remain subjects of an INTERPOL Red Notice for arrest and potential extradition, the case continues to unfold, with further legal proceedings expected to shed light on the extent of the alleged corruption and the measures needed to address it.
