As all 13 Defendents Pleads not Guilty
Credit: Melvin Jackson
Monrovia, Liberia – All thirteen former government officials accused of misappropriating and diverting rice provided to Liberia by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have filed not guilty pleas before Criminal Court “C” of the First Judicial Circuit, Montserrado County. The defendants filed their pleas on Monday, August 17, 2026, marking the start of judicial procedures in a case that has attracted a lot of public attention because of the alleged mishandling of humanitarian supplies intended for disadvantaged Liberians and disaster victims.
In 2023, Liberia got 29,412 bags of 25-kilogram rice from Saudi Arabia, according to the government’s accusation. As reported to the prosecution, 25,054 bags worth about US$425,918 were later diverted through unapproved transfers and distribution. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former General Services Agency Director-General and former Monrovia Mayor Mary T. Broh, former Internal Affairs Minister Varney A. Sirleaf, and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Administration Thelma E. Sawyer is among those indicted.
Others include Augustine Tamba, former Deputy Director for Operations at the National Disaster Management Agency; Augustine M. Kollie, former Director for Disaster Victims at the NDMA; Henry O. Williams, former Executive Director of the NDMA; Edward S. Konneh, former NDMA employee; and Archievego M. Doe, former Communications Director of the NDMA. Also on trial are Edris Bility, former Deputy Director for Operations at the GSA; Mamie Davies, former Assistant Director at the GSA; Momolu Johnson, former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs for Administration; and Rosetta L. Gbassay Bowah, former Logistics Officer at the NDMA.
The prosecution alleges that some of the defendants participated in meetings and made decisions about the management of the Saudi rice, going beyond their official authority to decide how to transport and distribute the humanitarian gift. The prosecution claims that the National Disaster Management Agency’s legislative authority was violated by the purported transfer of 13,895 bags of rice to a GSA warehouse. The indictment makes explicit mention of this.
The government further alleges that the defendants’ joint interference with the planned distribution of the rice caused thousands of sacks to be diverted from their intended humanitarian use. Economic sabotage, theft, misuse of entrusted property, abuse of office, and criminal conspiracy are among the alleged charges. The prosecution now has the burden of proving each accused person’s alleged criminal responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt after all 13 defendants entered not guilty pleas.
Until a court of competent authority proves the defendants’ guilt, they are deemed innocent. It is anticipated that the lawsuit will look at who gave the go-ahead for the donated rice to be moved, the circumstances surrounding its transfer to different locations, how the rice was eventually distributed or disposed of, and if the former officials’ conduct were illegal. Meanwhile, jury selection is ongoing at Criminal Court “C.” Following the selection process, the jurors are expected to be sequestered as the trial proceeds.
The prosecution’s witnesses, documentation evidence, and interpretation of the accused officials’ activities during the management of the Saudi donation are all likely to be contested by the defense teams. The trial is being closely watched as the government continues its stated efforts to investigate alleged misuse of public resources and recover assets believed to have been misappropriated.
