MONROVIA — Criminal Court “C” has overturned the acquittal of former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah and ordered a new trial after finding that serious jury misconduct compromised the integrity of the original proceedings.
In a landmark ruling, the court declared the previous trial a mistrial following an investigation into allegations of jury tampering and violations of court procedures by the 15-member jury panel.
As part of the ruling, Presiding Judge Ousman F. Feika ordered the arrest of all 15 jurors. They have been remanded to the Monrovia Central Prison and referred to the Ministry of Justice for possible criminal prosecution.
Investigation Uncovered Jury Misconduct
The court launched its investigation after allegations surfaced that jurors had used mobile phones while they were under sequestration during the trial.
According to the court’s findings, telephone records obtained from Orange Liberia and Lonestar MTN revealed communications between members of the jury and individuals outside the jury quarters while the trial was still in progress.
The investigation also found that some jurors discussed the case before the court had instructed them to begin formal deliberations, a violation of their oath and established judicial procedures.
Judge Feika ruled that the misconduct undermined the fairness of the proceedings and called into question the jury’s impartiality.
Some Allegations Dismissed
The court noted that certain allegations raised during the investigation were not supported by sufficient evidence.
Among those dismissed were claims of a romantic relationship involving one of the defense lawyers and the jury forelady. However, the court concluded that the proven violations alone were sufficient to invalidate the verdict.
New Trial Ordered
As a result of the findings, the court set aside the not-guilty verdict delivered on May 8, 2026, and ordered that Tweah and his co-defendants be retried before a new jury.
The decision returns the high-profile corruption case to active litigation, with fresh proceedings expected to be scheduled in accordance with the court’s order.
The ruling is being viewed as one of the most significant judicial decisions in recent years, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity, independence, and fairness of Liberia’s criminal justice system.
Despite the court’s decision, Samuel Tweah and the other defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in the new trial ordered by the court.
