MONROVIA, LIBERIA–The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) says the longstanding corruption case involving former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LIGIS) has formally resumed.

The resumption of the case before Criminal Court “C” followed the selection and induction of a fifteen-member jury, which represents a critical advancement following the case’s prolonged delay since 2023.

Those currently before the Court are Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LIGIS, and Lawrence George, former Deputy Director-General for Administration.

Former Deputy Director-General for Information and Coordination, Wilmot Smith, was disconnected from the case and is scheduled to be tried separately after the court confirmed he remains outside the jurisdiction of Liberia.

The charges stemmed from allegations that census funds were unlawfully diverted in violation of established financial procedures.

The prosecution has presented claims of irregular procurement activities, including the purchase of a second-hand generator at an inflated price instead of a new unit as approved in the project budget.

Meanwhile, LACC says payments were reportedly issued for a census workshop that never occurred, with individuals paid for services that were not rendered.

It said preliminary estimates placed the potential loss as high as 1.7 million United States Dollars, while verified documentation now before the court places the prosecutable amount at over one hundred and twenty-eight thousand United States Dollars.

The alleged misconduct disrupted the 2022 census operations, contributing to unrest among unpaid enumerators, logistical breakdowns, and a decline in public confidence in a national exercise critical to development planning.

Meanwhile, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission has reiterated its commitment to accountability and transparency during the investigation.