Monrovia, Liberia – In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court of Liberia has temporarily halted proceedings in the high-profile US$500,000 Saudi Rice Case, following a writ of prohibition filed by co-defendant Thelma Duncan Sawyer.
The writ, issued under the directive of Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, directs a suspension of all court actions in the matter until a conference with the Justice is held on December 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The case, which had been scheduled before Criminal Court ‘C’ under Judge Ousman F. Feika, involves allegations of misappropriation of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist Liberian disaster victims.
The petition identifies the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), chaired by Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, as a respondent. Cllr. Sam Mamulu, Clerk of the Supreme Court, confirmed the filing and the temporary suspension of the trial.
AREPT Reacts
In response, AREPT expressed surprise at the Supreme Court’s intervention but emphasized that its anti-corruption mission remains undeterred. Joseph F. Dantels, Public Relations Officer, said the Taskforce had completed all preparations for prosecution, including organizing evidence and securing witnesses.
> “We were fully prepared and set to commence prosecution of the US$500,000 Saudi Rice Case,” Dantels said. “The trial, scheduled for Friday, November 14, was a crucial step in holding accountable those accused of misappropriating donated rice intended for Liberian disaster victims.”
AREPT stressed that the temporary halt would not affect its broader mandate. The Taskforce reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, assuring the public that all individuals implicated in this case—and other corruption-related investigations—will face prosecution.
The agency also confirmed that ongoing investigations into the alleged theft of public property and unexplained acquisitions of assets by current and former government officials continue unabated.
Background
The Saudi Rice Case centers on allegations that rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was misappropriated by individuals linked to the Anita Group of Companies and certain government officials. The case is among several high-profile anti-corruption investigations handled by AREPT, aimed at tracing, recovering, and prosecuting stolen or suspicious public assets.
With the Supreme Court now involved, the case faces a temporary pause, but authorities maintain that the fight against corruption in Liberia is far from over.
