Liberia’s Supreme Court has allowed an investigation into alleged jury misconduct in the high-profile corruption case involving former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, dealing a blow to efforts by his legal team to halt further proceedings
During a legal conference on Thursday, Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba informed both prosecution and defense lawyers that Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman Feika is authorized to move forward with examining claims of jury tampering. The allegations were reportedly raised by three members of the 15-person jury panel involved in the case.
The case centers on the widely followed US$6.2 million corruption trial, in which Tweah and former Financial Intelligence Agency Comptroller Moses Cooper were acquitted earlier this month.
Tweah’s lawyers had petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of prohibition, arguing that Judge Feika no longer had the authority to revisit the matter after the jury had been discharged. They maintained that any attempt to investigate jurors after the conclusion of the trial exceeded the court’s jurisdiction.
However, Justice Kaba declined to grant the request, effectively allowing the lower court to proceed with its inquiry in line with legal procedures. Legal sources confirmed that this decision restores Judge Feika’s ability to examine the allegations surrounding possible interference during the trial.
The Supreme Court’s directive is expected to be formally communicated to Criminal Court “C,” paving the way for hearings on the matter to continue.
This development has revived public debate over the case, raising broader questions about the limits of post-verdict investigations and the integrity of Liberia’s jury system in one of its most closely watched corruption trials.
