By Lincoln G. Peters
MONROVIA, July 24, 2026 — Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. has accused Solicitor General Augustine F. Fayiah of improperly securing the release of three jurors detained over alleged misconduct in the US$19 million economic sabotage and corruption trial involving Tweah and several co-defendants.
The three jurors were released from the Monrovia Central Prison on Thursday, July 23, following an intervention by the Ministry of Justice. They were among 15 jurors ordered detained by Criminal Court “C” Judge Ousman F. Feika pending further proceedings over alleged jury tampering and misconduct.
In a post on his official Facebook page Thursday, Tweah alleged that one of the released jurors is romantically involved with Solicitor General Fayiah. He further claimed, without providing evidence, that the three were released to prevent them from disclosing alleged government interference in the trial.
“Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah has released his girlfriend and two female jurors to prevent them from confessing the Government bribed them,” Tweah alleged.
He called on Justice Minister N. Oswald Tweh to order the release of the remaining 12 jurors and urged the international community to intervene.
Tweah also claimed that Criminal Court “C” did not authorize the three jurors’ release, alleging that the decision came directly from the Ministry of Justice.
“We demand the Government immediately check the call logs of phones belonging to Fayiah and his lover, the jury forewoman,” Tweah wrote.
Neither Fayiah nor the Ministry of Justice had publicly responded to Tweah’s allegations up to press time.
The Justice Ministry, however, described the three released jurors as whistleblowers whose disclosures prompted the court’s investigation into alleged jury misconduct.
The three had reportedly complained that some fellow jurors violated the court’s sequestration order by using mobile phones and communicating with outsiders during deliberations in the corruption trial.
Following an investigation, Judge Feika concluded that jury tampering and misconduct had occurred. He subsequently overturned the defendants’ earlier acquittal and ordered all 15 jurors detained at the Monrovia Central Prison pending further proceedings.
Although the three complainants have been released, the remaining 12 jurors remain in detention under the court’s order.
