MONROVIA – Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika has reserved ruling on a motion for a new trial filed by former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS).
The motion follows a unanimous guilty verdict returned by a 15-member jury against the former officials on multiple criminal charges. The case, prosecuted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), involved allegations of economic sabotage, misuse of public funds, misapplication of entrusted property, forgery, unlawful rewarding of public servants, and unlawful compensation in procurement matters.
The defendants include former LISGIS Director General Francis F. Wreh and several senior managers. Their defense team argues that newly discovered evidence could have changed the outcome of the trial.
At the center of the motion is an audit conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) under a co-financing agreement with the Government of Liberia.
The audit, covering census-related expenditures through December 31, 2023, reportedly found no financial irregularities at LISGIS. Defense lawyers contend the report, completed in February 2024 and received by current LISGIS management in December 2024, was not disclosed before trial and could exonerate their clients.
The motion also cites alleged procedural errors, including claims that the indictment was never read to the jury and questions the integrity of the verdict, noting the jury deliberated for less than thirty minutes despite extensive evidence.
The defense further alleges that the prosecution withheld key documents, including a 2019 “no objection” request to the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) and a 2022 letter from former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah confirming a US$3 million transfer to the Census Basket Fund.
Judge Feika reserved ruling after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution. The court is expected to announce its decision at a later date.
