NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – A jury sitting in Criminal Court “C” has returned a guilty verdict against two former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) in the long-running 2022 National Population and Housing Census corruption case.
The defendants, Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LISGIS, and Lawrence George, former Deputy Director-General for Administration, were found guilty on all six counts brought against them by the State.
By: Lee Monjue – leemonjue@gmail.com – Contributing Writer
The verdict was reached following the close of final arguments and the conclusion of jury deliberations, ending a trial that focused on allegations of financial misconduct, abuse of public trust, and procurement irregularities linked to the conduct of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
According to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the charges stemmed from the misappropriation of public funds allocated for the national census—an exercise considered critical to effective national planning, policy formulation, and development programming.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented oral testimony and documentary evidence outlining a pattern of unlawful financial practices, including improper procurement procedures and payments for goods and services that were never delivered or rendered, the LACC disclosed.
In a statement following the verdict, the LACC reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, stressing that public officials entrusted with state resources must be held to the highest standards of integrity.
Integrity Watchdog CENTAL Welcomes Verdict
Meanwhile, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has welcomed the conviction, describing the ruling as a significant milestone in the country’s fight against corruption.
In a social media post, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said the court’s decision represents a major victory for accountability, even as he acknowledged that the convicted officials retain the constitutional right to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Miamen noted that the case exposed serious irregularities and misconduct at LISGIS and emphasized that those responsible must be fully held to account to deter future abuse of public resources.
He also commended the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission for successfully prosecuting the case at the trial court level, describing the outcome as a positive signal toward restoring public confidence in Liberia’s justice system.
Additionally, Miamen urged the LACC to intensify its prosecutorial efforts, calling for the same level of determination in pursuing other corruption cases currently before the courts.
The conviction of the former LISGIS officials comes amid growing public demand for stronger anti-corruption measures and greater protection of state resources, as Liberians continue to call for increased transparency and accountability in public service.
