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By Lincoln G. Peters
Temple of Justice, Monrovia, Liberia | March 26, 2026: The government’s second subpoenaed witness in the ongoing criminal proceedings at Criminal Assizes “C” failed to directly link former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah to the signing and handling of key financial instruments, in testimony that stopped short of establishing personal culpability.
Taking the witness stand on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the prosecution’s second subpoena witness, Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Director of Banking William Grant Jlopleh, confirmed under oath that while the disputed transactions were processed through the banking system, the documentation presented in court did not establish that Tweah single-handedly signed the instruments in question.
Jlopleh testified that the documents show Tweah signed alongside then-Comptroller General Janga Kowo and then-Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Samoria Wolokollie.
The witness told the court that the CBL acted on transfer instructions originating from the Ministry of Finance, involving movements from Government of Liberia (GOL) accounts to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA).
However, he clarified that the bank’s role was strictly administrative — processing documents received rather than verifying the personal execution of signatures beyond institutional approvals.
When pressed on whether Tweah directly signed the instruments, Jlopleh’s testimony suggested a disconnect between the former minister and the physical documentation, emphasizing instead that the instruments bore institutional markings and approvals consistent with standard government financial operations.
Despite this, the prosecution appeared undeterred, using the testimony to reinforce its broader narrative that the transactions — regardless of who physically signed- were executed under a chain of authority that must be scrutinized. Prosecutors highlighted that the existence, movement, and processing of the funds remain central to establishing accountability.
Documents Admitted, Defense Objects
Earlier in the proceedings, the court admitted into evidence a batch of original financial instruments and transfer documents, some of which the defense had contested. While the defense argued that certain documents were not properly subpoenaed or were mere photocopies, the court partially overruled these objections, allowing key materials to stand as evidence.
The prosecution also attempted to introduce additional financial records through a subpoena duces tecum, seeking bank statements and cheque records linked to the FIA accounts. Although the defense objected, calling the move a “fishing expedition,” the court held that such requests are permissible under established procedural rules, provided that proper examination of witnesses is first exhausted.
Notably, Jlopleh disclosed that the CBL does not retain original cheques after processing, as these are typically returned to the originating institutions along with account statements.
Precedent-Setting Trial
With more witnesses anticipated, the trial is increasingly shaping into a contest between direct attribution and institutional accountability — one that could set a significant precedent for how financial crimes involving public officials are prosecuted in Liberia.
