Samuel Tweh: Former Liberian finance minister wanted in corruption case

Image Source: Liberia Ministry of Finance and Development Planning/Facebook

Image caption: Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh had previously been sanctioned by the US over corruption allegationsArticle information

• Author, Moses Kollie Garzeawu
• Paper, BBC News, Monrovia

• 3 hours ago

An arrest warrant has been issued for Liberia’s former finance minister following allegations he was involved in a $500 million (£389 million) corruption scheme.

Samuel Tweh, along with four other senior officials in former President George Weah’s government, have been indicted for allegedly stealing from the government while they were in office.

Mr. Tweh, who has already been sanctioned by the United States for corruption, called the indictment a “politically motivated witch hunt” against him and other former officials.

Weah’s government, whose six years in power ended in January, has been plagued by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.

When President Joseph Boakai took office, he promised to crack down on corruption.

On Monday, the five former officials were indicted on charges of economic sabotage, illegal disbursement and spending of public funds, criminal conspiracy and other charges.

The Municipal Court in the capital, Monrovia, later issued arrest warrants.

Three of the men — former national security adviser Jefferson Karmoh, state prosecutor Nyenati Tuan and Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) chief accountant Moses Cooper — were unable to post bail and were therefore detained at Liberia’s central prison.

They or their legal representatives have yet to comment on the allegations.

Mr Tweh and former FIA chief Stanley Ford have not yet been arrested – police are unsure of their exact whereabouts.

Image caption: Former national security adviser Jefferson Karmoh, pictured in the pink shirt, is among three former officials who have been detained in prison

This is not the first time the former finance minister has been accused of corruption — last December, the US sanctioned him and two senators for “abusing their public positions by soliciting, accepting and offering bribes.”

Mr Tweh denied that allegation at the time, and in response to Monday’s accusation, he wrote on Facebook: “Today, a politically motivated witch hunt has been officially launched against me, calling for my arrest.

“For the past six years, I have been a major political target and faced false and diabolical accusations.”

Mr Boakai took office in January after defeating Mr Weah in a runoff.

In his move to combat corruption, he declared his assets and ordered an audit of the presidential office. The results have not yet been released.

Mr Boakai also strengthened the General Audit Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

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Image source, Getty Images/BBC

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