Days after approving the joint property valuation bond of Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$500,000.00), and a property Deed valued the amount of US$ 6,000,000 for release of several defendants linked to the Capitol Building arson case, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” has denied the motion to release Thomas Etheridge and several defendants in the high-profile arson case.
The property surety bond, which was intended for defendants Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, Stephen Broh, and Gabriel Fansich in the Capitol Building arson case, suffered a setback on Thursday, August 7, 2025, when the judge denied a motion to secure their release. The Judge said even though the bond was approved, it does not mean that the court should release the defendants immediately without a hearing on the criminal appearance bond.
Judge Willie said after the defense filed their criminal appearance bond, the prosecution filed an exception to the bond, claiming it was insufficient, and the court is still concluding on the sureties. However, defense lawyers argued that the court had violated defendants’ rights, stating that it was unconstitutional and unfair for the court to punish the defendants after it had approved the bail bond.
Etheridge and his colleagues, through their lawyers, argued that once the court approved the bond, the defendants should be released; as such, they prayed the court to suspend the hearing of the exception on the criminal appearance bond and release them. They claimed that all of the crimes against them are allegations and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In the instant case, the defendants were arrested and have been detained at the Monrovia Central Prison since January 2025, as the bail bond was presented to the court and approved on August 4, 2025.
They maintain that these defendants, along with four lawmakers who are out on bail, were charged for the same crimes, justifying that the purpose of the criminal Appearance Bond is to ensure that the defendant comes to court when there is a hearing.
“You require us to bring human sureties. To what is too important for the defendant to be in jail? It is unfair because the court has approved the bond; the people should be released. When you take one step further for us to bring human sureties, we think you should remain on the right course. But keeping them in jail to prove what?” defense lawyers wondered.
The defendants were charged with the crimes of Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Release of Distribution Forcer, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Theft of Property.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie approved the bond on Monday, August 4, 2025 to secure the temporary release of the defendants, who stand accused of multiple crimes including Arson. The parties have been cited to a hearing slated for Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The property sureties bond was filed on behalf of defendants Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, Stephen Broh and Gabriel Fansich. The defendants were charged with Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Release of Distribution Forcer, Recklessly Endangering Another Person and Theft of Property.
According to the defense lawyers’ July 24, 2025 bond, the defendants’ sureties are represented and guarantee by Randolph S. Cole and Rufina J. Cole by and thru the Property Deed duly registered, probated and all taxes paid up to date January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, and applied revenue text receipt renewal. The defense attached copies of Liberia Revenue Authority Flag Receipts (LRA), justifying that the properties have valuation bond to serve as surety for the defendants.
“NOW THEREFORE, WE the sureties, Randolph J. Cole and Rufina J. Cole owner of said Deed and a Two Stairs Way Building thereon, duly registered and probated and authorized by law to be surety bond, do hereby offered our property and Deed representative, assigns and successors in interest jointly and severally unto the defendants in the Amount of US$500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). For and on behalf of the defendants) to appear, on 06 day of August A.D. 2025 at the hour of 1:00 A.M./P.M. for the hearing of said case to include all others succeeding hearings until said matter is fully adjudicated and that the within defendant is hereby equated or guilty,” the bond indicated.
Recently, Judge Willie came under intense scrutiny following the imposition of stringent bail conditions on the human sureties of several defendants connected to the Capitol Building Arson case. The defendants’ contention to Judge Willie is that the bond restrictions were severe, excessive and undermine the principles of judicial fairness.
