MONROVIA – Criminal Court “B” has denied a motion for retrial in the case of Sam Worlobah, an unlicensed Operating Room Technician convicted for performing a botched surgical procedure that led to a patient’s death.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Presiding Judge Wesseh A. Wesseh dismissed the defense’s arguments, ruling that they failed to present sufficient grounds to warrant a new trial. He upheld the jury’s majority guilty verdict, stressing that the prosecution had presented overwhelming evidence proving Wolobah’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The motion for a new trial is dismissed, denied, and rejected. The verdict of the jury remains undisturbed,” Judge Wesseh declared in open court.
Pre-Sentencing Report Ordered
The Court has ordered its Clerk to serve both prosecution and defense teams with copies of a Pre-Sentence Investigation Report. A date for formal sentencing will be announced following the issuance of a notice of assignment.
Not Licensed to Perform Surgeries
Judge Wesseh underscored that testimonies and documents presented during the trial clearly established that Wolobah was not a licensed medical doctor or surgeon. Records from the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) showed he was certified only as an Operating Room Technician — a role limited to assisting qualified doctors during surgeries, not performing them independently.
“In plain terms, the defendant was not a medical doctor or surgeon. His qualifications only allowed him to support doctors, not conduct surgeries,” the Judge emphasized.
The court concluded that Wolobah’s unauthorized actions amounted to criminal negligence, which directly caused the patient’s death, forming the basis of the jury’s guilty verdict.
Legal Precedents
Citing cases such as Dandy v. Republic of Liberia (1972) and Koffa v. Republic (LLR 34, 489), Judge Wesseh reminded the court that motions for retrial are subject to the trial judge’s discretion and can only be overturned upon proof of abuse of that discretion.
“The prosecution established that the defendant was never registered as a doctor with the LMDC. Therefore, he bore full responsibility for the outcome of his unlawful medical actions,” the Judge ruled.
Background of the Case
Court records show that the deceased patient was taken to Wolobah’s facility with abdominal pains. Wolobah diagnosed the patient with appendicitis and Hepatitis B and, despite lacking a license, recommended and performed surgery after charging the family US$225.
The patient died the following day, March 19, 2025, from complications arising from the unauthorized procedure. Prosecutors argued that Wolobah misled the family by posing as a qualified medical professional capable of performing surgery.
Trial and Verdict
Wolobah was indicted and arraigned on August 18, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty. A 15-member jury was empaneled and, after weeks of testimony and evidence, returned a majority guilty verdict.
The defense’s motion for retrial, filed after the verdict, has now been rejected.
Awaiting Sentencing
With the conviction upheld, the case now moves to the sentencing phase, where Wolobah could face a substantial prison term for his role in the patient’s death.
