SUPREME COURT, MONROVIA – In a ruling at the Temple of Justice, Criminal Court ‘C’ has sentenced two former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to five years imprisonment each for their roles in the misuse of public funds allocated for Liberia’s 2021 National Population and Housing Census.
Presiding Judge Ousman Feika on Monday, February 16, 2026, handed down the sentence against Lawrence George, former Deputy Director-General for Administration, and Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LISGIS, after upholding a unanimous guilty verdict returned by the jury. The ruling followed months of legal proceedings that drew national attention to how census funds were managed.
The prosecution was led by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which indicted the former officials in 2023. According to the LACC, investigations uncovered that approximately US$1.795 million allocated for census-related activities between 2019 and 2022 could not be fully accounted for, raising serious concerns about financial controls within the institution.
During the trial, prosecutors presented what the Court described as extensive documentary and testimonial evidence. The evidence pointed to procurement irregularities, unsupported workshop payments, unauthorized compensation, and the failure to remit required taxes. These actions, the prosecution argued, collectively contributed to the diversion and misuse of funds intended for a critical national exercise.
In addition to the five-year prison terms, the Court ordered George and Paye to restitute US$97,000, representing the outstanding balance of disputed funds that had not been recovered. The restitution order forms part of the Court’s effort to ensure that misapplied public resources are returned to the Government.
The Court also acknowledged that three co-defendants, including former LISGIS Director-General Francis Wreh, had earlier repaid US$30,898 to the Government of Liberia after admitting to the charges brought against them. Their repayment was taken into consideration during the proceedings, but it did not absolve the primary defendants of criminal responsibility.
Delivering his ruling, Judge Feika stated that the prosecution’s case was “clear, cogent, and compelling,” adding that the defense failed to effectively rebut the weight of the evidence presented. He affirmed that the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict would stand, reinforcing the Court’s confidence in the integrity of the trial process.
Reacting to the verdict, the LACC described the ruling as a major milestone in Liberia’s fight against corruption. In a press statement issued February 16, 2026, the Commission emphasized that the conviction sends a strong message that public officials entrusted with state resources will be held accountable for any breach of that trust.
“This judgment underscores the Government of Liberia’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law,” the LACC stated. The Commission further stressed that the misuse of public funds, particularly those earmarked for national development initiatives such as the population census, will not be tolerated.
The 2021 National Population and Housing Census was regarded as a vital undertaking for national planning, economic forecasting, and equitable resource distribution. With this ruling, the judiciary and anti-corruption authorities have signaled a renewed determination to protect public funds and restore public confidence in the management of Liberia’s key national programs.
