Monrovia, Liberia – The Supreme Court has ordered the incarceration of five former government officials following its decision to uphold their convictions for Economic Sabotage in a case involving an alleged US$6 million loss to the Government of Liberia.
The ruling, delivered Thursday, August 27, 2026, by Associate Justice His Honor Boakai N. Kanneh, requires each of the five convicted officials to serve one year in prison and pay US$10,000 in restitution.
The former officials include Moses Wogbeh, former Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA); John Kanto, former FDA Technical Manager; Janger Kamara, former Manager for Commercial Forestry; David Blayee, former Grand Bassa County Surveyor; and Maxwell Gwee, former Director of Cartography at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The case centers on allegations surrounding the issuance and processing of 61 illegal Private Use Permits, which prosecutors said deprived the Liberian government of approximately US$6 million in revenue.
The defendants challenged their convictions before the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the lower court’s determination. However, after reviewing the matter, the Supreme Court upheld the finding of Economic Sabotage and affirmed the penalties imposed against the former officials.
Associate Justice Kanneh delivered the judgment during the Supreme Court’s 30th Day’s Session of the March Term, A.D. 2026, with the forestry matter listed as the first case for ruling.
The decision brings a major development to a case that has remained within Liberia’s judicial system for more than a decade.
The ruling now places five former public officials under custodial sentences over conduct linked to the issuance and management of forestry permits and the alleged loss of substantial government revenue.
Collectively, the five officials are required to pay US$50,000 in restitution, while each must serve a one-year prison sentence.
The Supreme Court’s decision sends a significant message concerning accountability in the management of Liberia’s natural resources, particularly where public officials are entrusted with regulatory authority over the forestry sector.
The case also highlights the financial consequences that can arise when government officials allegedly facilitate or participate in transactions that deprive the state of lawful revenue.
The ruling represents a major development for Liberia’s broader accountability efforts, particularly in sectors involving valuable natural resources and public revenue.
For the Government of Liberia, the judgment provides a significant judicial affirmation that alleged misconduct involving state resources can result in criminal liability and financial restitution.
For the five former officials, however, the Supreme Court’s ruling carries immediate consequences, with each facing imprisonment and a US$10,000 restitution obligation.
With the Supreme Court having upheld the convictions, the long-running forestry permit case has now reached a decisive judicial stage, placing the enforcement of the Court’s judgment at the center of the proceedings.
