The political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, has rejected claims of jury tampering in the Samuel D. Tweah Economic Sabotage case, calling on prosecutors to focus on evidence-based prosecution rather than interference after the jurors have been discharged.
Speaking on Sky FM in Monrovia on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Mr. Cummings said the allegations of jury tampering following the acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah are misguided. He argued that prosecutors should focus on an evidence-based approach rather than making post-verdict claims after the jury has been discharged and sent home, as this sets a bad precedent for the judicial system.
According to him, emphasis being placed on the allegations after Criminal Court “C” acquitted Tweah and some of his co-defendants on major charges, including economic sabotage, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, is inappropriate. He maintained that if the prosecution believes it had a strong case, its focus should remain on presenting credible and verifiable evidence before the court.
He emphasized that the focus should be on the evidence, stressing that justice is best served through a transparent and fact-based judicial process. He described it as disappointing that attention had shifted from the merits of the case to allegations that surfaced after the jury rendered its verdict.
Cummings further argued that if the government was dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial, it should have pursued the appellate process rather than concentrating on allegations that arose after the jurors had been discharged.
He also warned that politicizing legal proceedings could undermine public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts and urged authorities to ensure that all prosecutions are conducted fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the rule of law.
Following Mr. Tweah and Cooper’s acquittal, three of the jurors formally complained that colleagues engaged in misconduct during deliberations, including the use of cell phones in restricted areas and unauthorized communication with people linked to defendants, which the jurors claimed may have improperly influenced the verdict.
Recently, Judge Ousman F. Feika summoned all 15 jurors and court security for a hearing on May 20, 2026, and suspended the motion for a new trial pending inquiry. Tweah himself broke down in tears responding to the probe.
