An arrest warrant has been issued for Liberia’s former finance minister, Samuel Tweh, and four other senior officials from former President George Weah’s administration. This is according to a report by the BBC. They have been indicted for allegedly stealing $500m (£389m) from the government while in office.
Tweh, who was previously sanctioned by the US for corruption, denies the allegations, calling them a “politically motivated witch-hunt.” The indictment includes charges of economic sabotage, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses.
Three of the accused officials – Jefferson Karmoh, Nyenati Tuan, and Moses Cooper – have been detained in Liberia’s central prison due to their inability to pay bail. Tweh and former FIA chief Stanley Ford remain at large, with their whereabouts unknown to the police.
This is not the first time Tweh has faced corruption allegations. In December, the US sanctioned him and two senators for abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes. Tweh denied these allegations and has responded to the latest indictment on Facebook, claiming he has been a “major political target” and faced “falsely devilish accusations” over the last six years.
The new government, led by President Joseph Boakai, has pledged to tackle corruption. Boakai has declared his assets, ordered an audit of the presidential office, and strengthened the General Auditing Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.