MONROVIA — A subpoenaed witness from the Financial Intelligence Agency has told Criminal Court “C” that he was unable to produce critical documents requested in the ongoing trial involving former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. and other defendants.
The witness, Edward Hinnah, who serves as Chief of Staff to the FIA Director General, appeared before the court on Wednesday and testified that despite receiving formal communication and conducting an extensive internal search, the requested records could not be found.
“When I received the communication, I instructed my staff to check all the files, but none of the documents requested by the court was found,” Hinnah told the court.
Under questioning by prosecutors, he maintained that no relevant records were located within the agency’s files.
Court Seeks Original Financial Records
The testimony follows earlier subpoenas issued by the court compelling both the FIA and the Central Bank of Liberia to produce original financial instruments linked to transactions carried out in 2023.
The requested documents include:
- Cheques drawn on FIA accounts at the CBL
- Transactions in both Liberian and U.S. dollars
- Records covering the period between September 8 and October 17, 2023
The transactions are reportedly connected to D. Moses Cooper, who served as Acting Comptroller of the FIA at the time.
The court is also reviewing official communications addressed to former CBL Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue Jr., which may provide insight into the authorization of the disputed transactions.
Clash Over Documentary Evidence
In a related development, proceedings earlier in the week were marked by sharp exchanges between prosecution and defense over the admissibility of key financial documents.
Prosecutors sought to have several records—including FIA bank statements and government expenditure reports for Fiscal Year 2023—marked for identification, a request the court granted.
However, the defense strongly objected, arguing that:
- The documents presented were photocopies rather than originals
- The prosecution failed to account for the whereabouts of the original documents
- Proper legal procedures were not followed in introducing the evidence
Despite these objections, the court allowed the documents to be marked, noting that questions of admissibility will be determined as the trial progresses.
Case Intensifies
The inability of a key witness to produce subpoenaed documents has added a new layer of complexity to the proceedings, which are already under intense public scrutiny.
The case centers on allegations involving the handling of public funds and compliance with financial regulations—issues that have placed the conduct of senior officials under the spotlight.
As the trial continues, attention is expected to focus on whether prosecutors can establish a clear evidentiary trail in the absence of original financial records.
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