MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Thirteen former officials from the past administration on Monday responded to their criminal indictment with a “Not Guilty” plea before Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.

Their plea has now shifted the burden on the State to prove all the claims contained in the indictment as provided by Chapter 25, Section 25.5 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

ELBC Reporter said their response immediately led the Court to announce the selection of the trial jurors that will hear and determine the facts in the case as provided for by law.

Among those facing trial are former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, former National Disaster Management Agency Executive Director Henry Williams, and former Deputy Foreign Minister Thelma Sawyer.

The case stems from an alleged misappropriation of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Liberian Government worth over five hundred thousand US Dollars.

The rice was intended for distribution to disaster-affected communities and victims across Liberia, and was placed in warehouses under the management of relevant institutions of government.

However, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce headed by Cllr. Edwin Matin said,” Our investigations uncovered evidence of how the rice was mismanaged to personally benefit the indictees”.