The Presiding Judge of Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice, Osuman Feika, has rejected a motion filed by former National Security Advisor Jefferson Karmoh seeking a separate trial in the high-profile economic sabotage case involving several former officials of the Weah administration.
Karmoh is facing trial alongside former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, former Acting Justice Minister Nyanti Tuan, former Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) head Stanley S. Ford, former FIA Director D. Moses P. Cooper, and the former Financial Comptroller (name withheld).
The defendants face multiple charges, including economic sabotage, theft of property, money laundering, criminal facilitation, and criminal conspiracy. In his ruling, Judge Feika held that Karmoh failed to meet the legal threshold required for severance under Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law. The court noted that the defendant did not show nor provide evidence that a joint trial would prejudice his defense.
According to the ruling, Karmoh’s assertions were “vague,” “unsupported,” and procedurally defective, having been filed only after jury selection had already commenced. Judge Feika further pointed to established Supreme Court precedent, which permits a separate trial only when a defendant demonstrates “good cause” and a clear likelihood of prejudice should the joint trial proceed.
The judge emphasized that all defendants had already entered not-guilty pleas, pre-trial formalities had concluded, and Karmoh had not previously raised any concerns regarding joint representation, factors that, in the court’s view, undermined his request.
With the motion denied, the defendants will face trial together, as state prosecutors maintain that the accused acted in concert during the alleged commission of the offenses. Jury selection and discovery have already been completed, paving the way for full trial proceedings to begin on Monday, March 23, 2026, before Judge Feika.
The case, which has drawn considerable public attention, forms part of ongoing legal scrutiny into alleged financial improprieties linked to former officials of the previous administration. The outcome of the trial is expected to set a notable precedent in Liberia’s fight against public sector corruption.
