By Jeremiah Binda
A jury at Criminal Court “C” on Tuesday unanimously convicted two former senior officials of the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) for stealing more than US$100,000 in public funds, marking a significant development in the government’s fight against corruption and economic crimes.
The convicted officials are Lawrence George, former Deputy Director General for Administration, and Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LISGIS.
The crimes were committed in 2024 during their tenure at the institution under the administration of former President George Manneh Weah.
According to a report from the court, jurors ruled that the prosecution presented overwhelming and credible evidence establishing the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on all counts of the indictment.
The case was prosecuted by the Government of Liberia through lead counsel, Cllr. Bobby Livingston.
Immediately following the verdict, defense lawyers objected to the jury’s decision and announced their intention to file a motion for a new trial in accordance with Chapter 22, Section 22.10 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law.
Court documents reveal that George and Paye were among several former LISGIS officials indicted for the alleged misappropriation of more than US$100,000 belonging to the institution.
Some co-defendants have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the scheme and entered guilty pleas to avoid prolonged court proceedings.
The defendants were convicted on multiple charges, including economic sabotage, fraud on the Internal Revenue of Liberia, misuse of public money, theft of property, misappropriation, and criminal conspiracy.
Sentencing is expected following further court proceedings, as the case continues to draw public attention amid calls for accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
