By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia – Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice has sentenced two former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to five years imprisonment each following their conviction on multiple corruption-related charges.
The presiding Judge Ousman F. Feika ordered Lawrence George, former Deputy Director General for Administration, and Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LISGIS, to serve their sentences at the Monrovia Central Prison for five years.
Meanwhile, the Jury’s Unanimous Verdict Confirmed.
In furthering, Judge Feika confirmed and affirmed the unanimous guilty verdict returned by the empaneled jury, adjudging both men guilty of all crimes charged in the indictment. The convictions include: Economic Sabotage (Felony of the First Degree)
Forgery Criminal Conspiracy Misapplication of Entrusted Property
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the defendants to restitute US$97,000, representing the outstanding balance of funds that could not be accounted for following earlier restitution payments by other indicted officials.
Criminal Court “C” Judge, Judge Feika noted that on December 10, 2024, the court had accepted concessions from former LISGIS Director General Francis Wreh, along with Germue Gbawoquiya and Emmentry Kpoch. Those individuals were ordered to pay US$30,898 into the Government of Liberia Revenue Account, part of a total unaccounted amount of US$128,198.64.
The remaining US$97,000 was left outstanding, leading to the prosecution and conviction of George and Paye. Meanwhile, co-defendant Wilmont Paye remains at large.
According to court records, the LACC began its investigation following allegations of financial impropriety involving funds allocated for the 2021 National Population and Housing Census.
Additionally, an investigator alleged that approximately US$1.795 million, provided by the Government of Liberia between 2019 and 2022 to LISGIS, could not be properly accounted for. The funds were reportedly deposited into an account at Ecobank Liberia Limited designated for census activities.
Authorities further alleged that portions of the census funding were misapplied for personal use and for activities not related to the National Population and Housing Census.
During the trial, Dominic Paye testified in his own defense, admitting that he received US$450 in per diem for monitoring census activities in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
He told the court that his role as Comptroller was to provide financial oversight, process payments duly approved by management, and offer fiscal advice. Paye stated that he issued vendor payments upon management instruction and did not participate in contract negotiations.
He also testified regarding payment for a used generator purchased from Fortune Technical Services Inc., asserting that the required 4% tax was withheld and remitted to the Liberia Revenue Authority.
Defense counsel requested the issuance of a subpoena for the current LISGIS management to produce tax payment documents and testify before the court.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Feika emphasized that the ruling followed a careful review of the records and the findings of the jury. The court maintained that the defendants’ actions constituted serious violations of Liberia’s anti-corruption and financial management laws.
