Monrovia, Liberia – Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah and seven other defendants have been sentenced to prison in connection with the alleged diversion of a US$500,000 consignment of rice donated to Liberia by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Kemayah was handed a 10-year prison sentence, while the seven other convicted defendants were each sentenced to five years following their conviction in the case involving 29,412 bags of humanitarian rice.
The rice, donated in 2023, was intended to provide relief to disaster victims and vulnerable communities across Liberia. However, the consignment allegedly ended up outside the designated distribution channels, prompting investigations and subsequent legal proceedings.
On October 9, 2026, a jury found eight defendants guilty, acquitted three others and failed to reach a verdict on two additional defendants.
The case subsequently proceeded before Criminal Court ‘C’ after the defense filed a motion seeking a new trial.
The sentences mark a major development in a case that has attracted public attention because of the alleged misuse of humanitarian assistance provided to support some of Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens.
Meanwhile, Kemayah and the other convicted defendants have indicated their intention to challenge the verdict and sentences before the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Their planned appeal is expected to contest the jury’s findings and the penalties imposed by the court.
The case has placed renewed attention on accountability, transparency and the management of international humanitarian donations, particularly those intended to provide relief to vulnerable populations.
The outcome of the anticipated appeal will determine the next stage of the legal proceedings.
