By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia, Liberia: — Sinoe County Senator Augustine Chea has sent a strong warning to the current ruling Unity Party (UP) administration to back off from what he called “political persecution” of former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. following his acquittal in the just concluded landmark US$ 6.2 million corruption case.
In a commentary titled “Convict Samuel Tweah Anyhow!”, the lawmaker warned that the fierce backlash from ruling party circles threatens to drag Liberia back into a dark era reminiscent of the 1980s, where the justice system was weaponized as an extension of partisan warfare.
Outrage Over Jury Verdict Sparks Backlash
According to Senator Chea, the moment a jury returned a “not guilty” verdict in favor of Tweah, sections of the UP establishment abandoned their professed confidence in the judiciary, shifting instantly to open hostility.
The Senator highlighted an alarming wave of Facebook posts, political commentaries, and public statements from UP partisans claiming the acquittal “will not stand” and attacking the integrity of the jurors.
Most notable, Chea pointed out, was the fury directed inward at the government’s own chief prosecutor.
“Instead of accepting the jury’s verdict as the Minister of Justice did, they accused him of being ‘weak’ for accepting the acquittal,” Chea wrote, referencing a public call by the UP Youth Wing Chairman for the Justice Minister’s dismissal.
“The UP Youth Wing Chair even called publicly for the Minister’s removal, portraying the verdict as a political embarrassment rather than an independent judicial determination.”
Sen. Chea argued that this reaction exposes a “deeply troubling mindset” where prosecutors are expected to guarantee convictions in politically sensitive cases, rather than simply present evidence and uphold the law.
Persecution Disguised as Anti-Corruption
Addressing an ongoing investigation into allegations of jury tampering in the Tweah case, Senator Chea voiced concern that the probe is being used as a pretext by ruling party elements determined to “convict Samuel Tweah anyhow.”
The lawmaker cautioned that selective respect for the courts destroys the moral authority of the government’s anti-corruption drive.
“A government that aggressively celebrates prosecution but refuses to politically accept acquittal creates the impression that court proceedings are not about justice, but about punishing political opponents,” Chea stated.
“That is not accountability. That is persecution disguised as anti-corruption.”
A Warning to Those in Power: ‘The Seat Belt Will Unfasten’
Senator Chea warned that the current administration’s reaction to the ruling sets a precarious precedent for future transitions of power, potentially trapping Liberia in a permanent cycle of retaliatory justice.
Directing a sharp warning to current ruling officials, Chea wrote:
“Dismiss them if you like because you’re in the driver’s seat. But don’t forget, the seat belt will unfasten tomorrow.”
He warned that normalizing political pressure on the courts would lead to severe national consequences, including increased political polarization across the country.
Sen. Chea warned of declining public trust in the independence of the Judiciary as well as growing instability in Liberia’s democratic order.
Defending the Rule of Law
While affirming that the fight against corruption is legitimate and that public officials must remain accountable, Chea emphasized that justice must never become a “project of persecution.”
“The true test of democracy is not whether governments can prosecute opponents,” Chea concluded. “It is whether governments can respect legal outcomes they do not like. Enough is enough — leave Samuel Tweah alone!”
The Unity Party leadership and the Ministry of Justice have yet to issue an official response to Senator Chea’s allegations.
About the Author
