5 Sentenced In US$6M Forestry Scandal
“For the five convicts, the judgment carries immediate consequences of incarceration, total confinement, and financial restitution,” –Court’s record.
The Supreme Court has ordered the incarceration of five former officials of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
The High Court had upheld the conviction of the affected officials for ‘economic sabotage’ in a case that involved US$6 million loss to the government.
Associate Justice Boakai N. Kanneh, in his ruling said, the judgment ordered each of the convicted officials to serve one year in prison, and thereafter pay US$10,000 in restitution.
The convicted individuals are Moses Wogbeh, former FDA Managing Director; John Kanto, former FDA Technical Manager; Janger Kamara, former Manager for Commercial Forestry; David Blayee, former Grand Bassa County Surveyor, and Maxwell Gwee, former Director of Cartography at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The case stemmed from allegations that the officials participated in the issuance, and processing of 61 illegal Private Use Permits (PUP), deprived the government of approximately US$6 million in revenue. The defendants appealed their convictions to the Supreme Court, but the High Court upheld the finding of economic sabotage, and imposed the one-year custodial sentence, and restitution against each of the convicts.
The ruling was delivered during the Supreme Court’s 30th Day’s Session of the March Term, A.D. 2026, with the forestry case listed as the first matter for ruling.
The decision brought a development to a case that has remained in the judicial system for more than a decade, and placed former senior government officials behind bars over conduct connected to the management, and issuance of forestry permits.
The five officials will collectively be required to pay US$50,000 in restitution, in addition to serving their respective one-year prison term.
The Supreme Court’s judgment also underscored the principle that public officials entrusted with state resources can be held accountable when their actions are found to have caused financial harm to the government.
For the government, the ruling represents a victory in its efforts to enforce accountability in the management of the natural resources.
For the convicted former officials, the judgment carries immediate consequences, including incarceration, and financial restitution.
