Liberia, Aug. 25 -- Witness Says Former Foreign Minister Halted Distribution After Media Reports, Formed Probe Committee That Found No Evidence Rice Was Sold on Liberian Market.

By Willie N. Tokpah

MONROVIA- Prosecution's first witness in the controversial Saudi-donated rice trial has provided testimony that could become significant to the defense of former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, acknowledging that the former minister moved to halt the distribution of the humanitarian commodity after reports that it was being sold, but that an investigative committee he established found no evidence that the rice had been sold on the Liberian market.

The testimony, delivered before Criminal Court "C," has introduced a critical disti...