05/06/2026
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐' ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐
Monrovia, Liberia โ June 5, 2026 โ Criminal Court โCโ at the First Judicial Circuit, Montserrado County, has ordered an independent medical assessment of former Commerce Minister Mawine G. Diggs following her application seeking permission to travel outside Liberia for medical treatment.
The Court's directive comes after lawyers representing Ms. Diggs filed an application requesting authorization for her to travel to the United States for what they described as medical care. In response, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) and the Ministry of Justice filed a formal resistance, emphasizing that all available local medical options should first be explored and exhausted before overseas treatment is considered. The resistance further argued that any request for medical travel abroad should be supported by sufficient medical evidence establishing that the required treatment cannot be adequately provided within Liberia, while also raising concerns regarding the potential impact of such travel on ongoing judicial proceedings.
In the wisdom of the Court, Criminal Court โCโ, presided over by His Honor Ousman F. Feika, directed an independent healthcare provider in Liberia to conduct a comprehensive medical assessment of Ms. Diggs and advise the Court. The Court further instructed that the assessment report be submitted within forty-eight hours of receipt of the communication.
The application arises from the Rural Women Empowerment Funds case currently before the Court. The matter involves allegations relating to the misappropriation of approximately US$493,669.38 and LRD$190,345,028.26 intended for rural women empowerment initiatives. Eight individuals have been indicted in connection with the case and are charged with offenses including theft of property, economic sabotage, misapplication of entrusted property, and criminal conspiracy.
AREPT welcomes the Court's decision to seek an independent medical assessment. The Taskforce maintains that medical travel abroad should be considered only after all reasonable local treatment options have been exhausted and where credible medical evidence establishes that the required treatment cannot be adequately provided within Liberia. AREPT remains committed to respecting the judicial process and ensuring that all matters before the courts are handled in accordance with due process, fairness, and the rule of law.
AREPT remains steadfast in its mandate to investigate, prosecute in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, and recover public assets for the benefit of the Liberian people while respecting the constitutional rights of all parties before the courts.
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