MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Criminal Court ‘C’ Presiding Judge, Ousman Feika, is entertaining legal argument in former LISGIS Controller Dominic Paye’s motion for a new trial.

The former Controller of the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Service (LISGIS )’s request was triggered by his conviction verdict by the trial jurors for stealing over ten thousand United States Dollars from the institution in 2024.

Defendant Paye’s request to the Court, according to our Judicial Reporter, claimed that the jurors’ verdict went contrary to the weight of the evidence adduced in Court by prosecuting lawyers.

He maintained that the prosecuting lawyers’ pieces of evidence failed to establish the burden of proof to warrant his and his colleague, Lawrence George,’s conviction for stealing the amount in question.

He argued that the verdict be set aside by the Court for new litigation consistent with Chapter 22, Section 22.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia.

Defendants Dominic Paye and Lawrence George, formerly of LISGIS, were convicted on January 13, 2026, at Criminal Court ‘C’ by the trial jurors for stealing over 100,000 US Dollars from the institution while serving in their positions during Weah’s administration in 2024.

Our Judicial Reporter said Monday’s proceeding will determine whether Judge Ousman Feika will announce his final judgment or reopen the case for new litigation consistent with the law.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice, Yamie Gbeisay, has transferred Gabriel Smith, Clerk of Criminal Court ‘A’, to the Paynesville Magisterial Court with immediate effect.

Chief Justice Gbeisay’s January 16, 2026, decision, according to our Judicial Reporter, named Hector Dolo, Clerk of the Paynesville Magisterial Court, as Gabriel Smith’s replacement.

The Chief Justice’s decision was contained in a communication dated January 13, 2026, from the Court Administrator of the Judiciary to the two Judicial employees regarding their new assignments.

It remains unclear what led to the Chief Justice’s action, especially at a time when Circuit Courts are about to reopen for the February Term of Court, consistent with Chapter 3, Section 3.8 of the Judiciary Law of Liberia.