Claim: “Samuel Tweah and Others Arrested in $6.2 Million Corruption Case”
Source: knewsolnline.com
Verdict: False! The government of Liberia is yet to arrest former finance minister Samuel D. Tweh and others, as claimed by journalist Z Benjamin Gabriel Keibah of Kool FM and knewsoline.com.
Full Text: Late July, a criminal court in Monrovia issued an arrest warrant for some officials of former president Weah’s administration for economic sabotage, including fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia; misuse of public money, property, or records; theft of property; illegal disbursement and expenditure of public funds; theft of property; money laundering; criminal facilitation; and criminal conspiracy.
This was predicated upon an indictment issued against Samuel Tweah, former finance minister, Jefferson Karmoh, former National Security Advisor, Nyanti Tuani, former Solicitor General, Stanley Ford, and D. Moses Cooper, Director General, and Comptroller General, respectively, at the Financial Intelligence last July.
While some of the indictees turned themselves over to the court and were bail out, it was long as the whereabouts of Tweah remained unknown until he arrived on September 25 in Liberia.
But on September 10, 2024, at about 8:57, a journalist at Kool FM (91.9 FM) and Knewsonline 2 published an article claiming that Tweah and others enlisted in the court’s indictment had been arrested in a 6.2 million corruption case.
A new writ of arrest On September 6, 2024, an indictment was issued out of court for the within-named ex-officials following an indictment that now charges the ex-officials with economic sabotage, including fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia, misuse of public money, property, or records, theft of property, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public funds, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation, and criminal conspiracy.
This legal action against these officials is the result of an LACC investigation that alleged that they were involved in a complex scheme to siphon off government resources through unauthorized transfers and subsequent illegal withdrawals of over L$1 billion. (approx. US$5 million) and an additional US$500,000 from the Central Bank of Liberia in late 2023, under the guise of official duties.
Verification: To verify this claim, we contacted the official spokesperson of the Liberia National Police, Cecelia G. Clarke, to find out whether the LNP has made any arrests of the individuals mentioned above.
Clarke said she has no idea of the claim. She did not respond to follow-up messages or calls.
We also contacted Journalist Z Benjamin Gabriel Keibah, editor of Kool FM, about the publication. He said, “I think our publisher placed it in that form; let me check it. It is an order.”
We contacted Cllr. Richard Scott, Montserrado County Attorney, and he said an indictment is drawn against them.
Scott furthered that, as of now, no further arrests have been made: “They posed a criminal appearance bond, but we accepted the bond but have not assigned it for hearing . Meaning we are not satisfied with the bond and believe it is less than adequate.
Conclusion: According to our research, journalist Benjamin Gabriel Keibah of Kool FM made a false claim.
