An arrest warrant has been issued for Liberia’s former finance minister, Samuel Tweh, following allegations of his involvement in a $500 million (£389 million) corruption scam.
Tweh, along with four other senior officials from former President George Weah’s administration, has been indicted for allegedly embezzling funds while in office.
Tweh, previously sanctioned by the US for corruption, dismissed the indictment as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” targeting him and other former officials.
The Weah administration, which ended in January after six years, was marred by corruption and financial mismanagement allegations.
Upon taking office, President Joseph Boakai vowed to crack down on corruption.
On Monday, the five former officials were charged with economic sabotage, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses.
Subsequently, the City Court in Monrovia issued arrest warrants for them. Three of the men—former national security adviser Jefferson Karmoh, state prosecutor Nyenati Tuan, and the Finance Intelligence Agency’s (FIA) accountancy head Moses Cooper—were unable to post bail and have been detained in Liberia’s central prison.
They or their legal representatives have not yet commented on the charges.
Tweh and former FIA chief Stanley Ford are still at large, with the police uncertain of their whereabouts. Tweh, who was sanctioned by the US last December for “abusing public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes,” denied those allegations.
In response to the recent indictment, he wrote on Facebook: “Today a politically motivated witch-hunt has been officially launched against my person, calling for my arrest. Over the last six years, I have been a major political target and have faced falsely devilish accusations.”
President Boakai, who took office in January after defeating Weah in a run-off election, has declared his assets and ordered an audit of the presidential office, although the results are not yet released.
He has also strengthened the General Auditing Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Source-BBC
