By Rockson Doe
MONROVIA – Thirteen former government officials and employees are set to face trial Monday, August 17, 2026, before Criminal Court “C” in Montserrado County over the alleged misappropriation of more than 25,000 bags of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for disaster victims in Liberia.
The high-profile case is expected to test Liberia’s efforts to strengthen accountability and recover public assets allegedly diverted or misused from humanitarian assistance intended for vulnerable communities.
Among those indicted are former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, former Internal Affairs Minister Varney A. Sirleaf, former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Administration Thelma Sawyer and former Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Administration Momolu Johnson.
Others include former National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Executive Director Henry O. Williams; former General Services Agency (GSA) Deputy Director for Operations Edris Bility; NDMA Director for Disaster Victims Augustine Kollie; and NDMA employee Edward S. Konneh.
Also indicted are NDMA Communications Director Archievego M. Doe; NDMA Logistics Officer Rosetta L. Gbassay Bowah; Warehouse Manager Evelyn Gbee; GSA Assistant Director Mamie Davies; and Wayfa Ciapha, identified in the indictment as the purported CEO of Group of Seventy-Seven.
The case stems from a donation of 29,412 bags of 25-kilogram rice, valued at approximately US$500,000, which Saudi Arabia provided to the Government of Liberia in April 2023.
The rice was intended to assist communities affected by disasters across Liberia and was placed in government-managed warehouses pending distribution.
However, an investigation by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) allegedly uncovered major discrepancies in the handling, storage and distribution of the consignment.
According to the indictment, 25,054 bags of the donated rice, valued at approximately US$425,918, were allegedly stolen, misapplied or improperly distributed.
The alleged loss has raised concerns about the management of humanitarian donations and the mechanisms in place to ensure that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries.
The defendants face multiple charges, including theft of property, economic sabotage, misuse of public money, property or records, theft and/or illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, misapplication of entrusted property, abuse of office and criminal conspiracy.
The defendants were indicted in 2025 following the AREPT investigation. After months of pretrial proceedings and discovery, Criminal Court “C” ruled on August 11, 2026, that the case should proceed to trial. Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday.
For AREPT, the trial marks a significant stage in its broader asset recovery mandate, particularly as the government seeks to demonstrate that allegations involving public resources will be subjected to judicial review.
In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Joseph F. Daniels, the Taskforce emphasized that an indictment does not constitute a finding of guilt.
AREPT said the evidence gathered during the investigation must now be presented and tested in court, where the defendants will have the opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations.
The Taskforce said the judicial process will determine whether criminal responsibility exists and whether restitution or recovery of public assets is warranted under Liberian law.
AREPT also pledged to work with the Ministry of Justice while respecting due process, the rights of the accused and the independence of the judiciary.
The proceedings are expected to draw significant public attention because of the number of former senior government officials involved and the nature of the allegations surrounding humanitarian assistance.
Beyond the individual defendants, the case could raise broader questions about transparency, accountability and oversight in the management of donor-funded relief supplies.
The outcome could also serve as an important benchmark for Liberia’s ongoing anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts, particularly in determining whether the justice system can effectively address allegations involving resources intended for some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
