MONROVIA – A writ of arrest has been issued for Wilmot Smith, former Deputy Director for Information and Coordination at the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), after he failed to appear in court as required under his criminal appearance bond. Smith was indicted alongside three other LISGIS officials for allegedly embezzling over US$1.7 million in public funds between 2019 and 2022.
According to the court document signed by His Honor Circuit Judge Ousman E. Feika at the Temple of Justice, Criminal Court “C,” Smith “along with his lawyer Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson, on their own volition, failed, refused and neglected to appear in Court, thereby obstructing the function of the Court and reducing it to Public Ridicule. The Criminal Appearance Bond filed in favor of Co-Defendant Wilmot Smith is hereby ordered set aside and Co-Defendant Wilmot Smith ordered rearrested and upon his arrest be remanded to the common jail of the Monrovia Central Prison until the determination of the Case. Hence, this writ of arrest for bail jumping.”
Smith had previously secured his release on a US$5 million property bond while awaiting trial. The charges against him and his co-defendants include economic sabotage, fraud on the Internal Revenue of Liberia, misapplication of entrusted property, criminal conspiracy, and counterfeiting.
Reports indicate that Smith has reportedly fled the country, complicating efforts by the Liberia National Police and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the court’s order. The case involves other senior LISGIS officials, including Director General Francis Wreh and Deputy Director Lawrence George, who are accused of the illegal disbursement and expenditure of public funds.
The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), which filed the original charges, maintains that the defendants engaged in acts of financial misconduct that violated public trust and drained government resources. By issuing the arrest warrant, the court emphasized that failure to comply with judicial orders, particularly in high-profile corruption cases, will not be tolerated.
Authorities have been directed to locate and apprehend Smith immediately, ensuring that he is brought before the court to respond both to the contempt charge for bail jumping and the underlying corruption allegations. The writ requires law enforcement officers to provide official returns on the execution of the arrest, further reinforcing the legal authority of the court.
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