The 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama, Liberia, has acquitted Dr. Isaac P. Podah, President of Lofa County University, along with three senior officials, in a widely followed corruption case involving allegations of payroll padding and misuse of public funds.
Presiding Judge Pape Suah granted a Motion of Acquittal, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The acquittal covers the entire 85-count indictment filed by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
Those acquitted alongside Dr. Podah include Darwolo B.S. Catakaw, C. Anthony Crayton, and Vamuyan L. Kanneh. The charges had accused them of economic sabotage, theft of property, misapplication of entrusted funds, criminal conspiracy, conflict of interest, and abuse of office for private gain.
In his ruling, Judge Suah stated that the prosecution’s evidence was inconsistent and lacked essential documentation. He explained that the state failed to establish the amounts allegedly received by each defendant, prove criminal conspiracy or a “meeting of the minds,” produce board-approved financial or employment policies allegedly violated, or demonstrate that fuel, daily subsistence allowances (DSA), or travel expenses constituted corruption.
The judge also criticized the indictment as “uncertain and unclear,” contrary to criminal law requirements.
The prosecution presented five witnesses, including LACC investigators and university officials.
However, the court highlighted contradictions in their testimonies. One senior LACC investigator admitted under oath that she had not interviewed any of the defendants, despite signing the investigative report that led to the indictment.
Additionally, testimony from LCU’s dismissed Human Resource Director contradicted claims of illegal hiring, stating that standard vetting procedures were followed and employment was finalized by the Civil Service Agency (CSA).
During the proceedings, charges against two co-defendants—Rev. Victor Padmore and Annie M. Flomo—were dropped. The court questioned how the state could continue prosecuting the remaining defendants for the same alleged sums, calling the move legally problematic.
Citing Supreme Court precedents including Keller v. Republic of Liberia, Sirleaf v. Republic of Liberia, and Gloria Musu Scott v. Republic of Liberia, Judge Suah ruled that acquittal was mandatory where reasonable doubt exists.
The case, which began with a grand jury indictment on September 8, 2025, has drawn significant public attention as part of Liberia’s broader anti-corruption efforts. With the acquittal, Dr. Podah and his colleagues bow out clean from one of the most high-profile corruption trials in recent years.
