MONROVIA, LIBERIA — The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has welcomed the guilty verdicts returned against eight defendants in the Saudi-donated rice corruption case, describing the outcome as a significant milestone in the Government of Liberia’s fight against corruption and the protection of public resources.
The verdicts were delivered on Friday, October 9, 2026, by a jury at Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia following weeks of testimony, documentary evidence, and rebuttal proceedings in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for disaster victims and vulnerable Liberians.
Among those found guilty were former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah and former Internal Affairs Minister Varney A. Sirleaf, marking a major development in a high-profile corruption prosecution involving former senior government officials.
The other defendants convicted were former Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Momolu Johnson; former National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) officials Augustine M. Kollie, Edward S. Konneh, Archievego M. Doe, and Rosetta L. Gbassay Bowah; and former General Services Agency (GSA) Deputy Director Edris Bility.
According to AREPT, three defendants were acquitted, while the jury returned inconclusive verdicts concerning two others.
US$500,000 Saudi Rice Donation at the Center of the Case
The case stemmed from an AREPT investigation into the alleged misappropriation of 29,412 bags of rice valued at approximately US$500,000, donated by Saudi Arabia in 2023 to assist disaster victims and vulnerable communities in Liberia.
The indictment alleged that 25,054 bags of the donated rice were unlawfully diverted or misapplied, raising questions about the management and distribution of humanitarian assistance intended for citizens in need.
The prosecution and subsequent jury verdicts have brought renewed attention to accountability in the handling of public resources, particularly humanitarian donations provided to support vulnerable populations.
For AREPT, the outcome represents a significant step in moving the case from investigation and indictment to criminal adjudication, underscoring the role of investigative work, evidence-based prosecution, and cooperation among institutions responsible for enforcing the law.
AREPT Vows to Defend Verdicts Against Appeals
Reacting to the verdicts, AREPT Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin reaffirmed the Taskforce’s determination to defend the outcome of the proceedings should the convicted defendants challenge the verdicts before the Supreme Court of Liberia.
“We are prepared. Definitely when they go to the Supreme Court, we will equally go there and defeat them there,” Martin stated.
His remarks signal AREPT’s readiness to defend the prosecution’s position as the case potentially moves into the appellate process.
However, the right to appeal remains available to the convicted defendants under applicable law, and any appeal would be determined through the judicial process.
A Major Test for Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Campaign
AREPT commended the state prosecutors, investigators, and other professionals whose efforts contributed to the prosecution, describing the verdicts as an important achievement in the Government of Liberia’s broader anti-corruption campaign.
The Taskforce also emphasized its respect for the judicial process and the legal rights of all parties involved, including those acquitted and those against whom the jury returned inconclusive verdicts.
The outcome is likely to intensify public discussion about accountability among former government officials and the importance of ensuring that public resources and humanitarian assistance reach their intended beneficiaries.
For a country where corruption and the management of public funds remain major governance concerns, the case represents an important moment in the ongoing effort to establish accountability through the courts.
AREPT reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing accountability, recovering unlawfully acquired public assets through lawful procedures, and protecting national resources for the benefit of all Liberians.
The Taskforce’s position is clear: the fight against corruption must continue, regardless of the status or former position of those accused of wrongdoing.
