One of the suspects of in the Case of the Arson Attack on the Capitol Building has admitted to crime investigators that he and others planned and carried out the felonious act on the capitol at the home of embattled House Speaker J. Fonati Foffa.
On Monday, January 20, 2025, after hearing a petition for prohibition filed by state prosecutors against a Writ of Habeas Corpus that saw one of the major suspects Thomas Etheridge released to his guarantors to seek medical treatment, the Justice In-Chambers of the Supreme Court Yamie Qui-qui Gbeisay ordered Defendant Etheridge to be turned over to the Monrovia City Court in an hour time, at which time Magistrate Ben L. Barco sent him to jail along with suspect Eric Susay who was already in police custody awaiting court trial for the same crime.
The defendants were charged with multiple crimes ranging from Arson, Release of Destructive Forces, Reckless Burning or Exploding, Criminal Mischief, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Criminal Attempt To Commit Murder, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Facilitation and Criminal Solicitation.
Others connected with the crime including Amos Kofa, Stephen Broh, John Nyanti, Grace Johnson and others to be identified, are said to be on the run.
After thorough investigation of the facts, police reference Defendant Susay’s involvement in the physical attack and stealing of victim Sgt. Amara Bility’s weapon including his involvement in the arson attack on the Capitol Building on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Police investigation alleged that the fire on the capitol building was an act of arson committed as the result of a conspiracy consummated by defendants Thomas, Eric, Amos Koffa, Stephen Broh, John Nyanti, Grace Johnson and others who had gone into hiding.
According to the investigation, the fire started between 6-6:45 am, on December 18, 2024, and completely burnt the Joint Chamber, fourth floor, the dome and all of the properties of the building.
The damage of the property based on the arson attack according to the police report is estimated at USD 8,672,653.60.
The investigation discovered that the Clorax bottle found on the scene contained the smell of gasoline as confirmed by the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) and the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) analysis reports respectively.
As for the rest at-large, according to the investigation, maliciously and physically assaulted victim Sgt. Amara Bility of the Police Support Unit leaving him helpless and unconscious, criminally took away his assigned beretta 9mm pistol (gun), bearing serial N40-2290.
For the other defendants to include Amos Koffa, Stephen Broh, Grace Johnson and others who are at-large, they also physically executed the arson on the capitol building.
In the police charge sheet, Defendants Susay admitted to the burning of the Capitol Building on December 18, 2024.
Defendant Susay said: “I left the CDC Party headquarters on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, and met defendants Thomas Isaac Etheridge commonly, called Tom, at Honorable Jonathan Fonati Kofa’s house, and Thomas Etheridge asked that we should met at PHP Park to discuss the burning of the Capitol building because he feels that was the only solution to end the fight between the lawmakers”
Defendants Eric Susay claimed that they were three namely, Thomas Isaac Etheridge and one the maintenance men whose name he does not know, and they planned to use gasoline on all areas in the joint Chamber that had wooden curtain windows.
Defendant Susay says that they were to start the fire at mid-night; as such, they left the PHP Park at 10pm on board a white vehicle owned by Thomas Etheridge and went back to Honorable Koffa’s residence. He alleged that while en route from the park, he saw a big size clorax bottle with gasoline at the back seat of the car.
Susay says at about 11pm the same day, they left Hon. Koffa’s residence in the same vehicle, headed for the Capitol Building, but while on their way, Etheridge asked that he stop at Vamoma because he believes that he (Susay) is always in conflict with the police and his presence at the Capitol Building on the operation would raise alarm.
Susay further tells police investigation that Etheridge told him to keep he had men at the Capitol Building that would help him carry out the operation, but did not call or text him until the joint chamber of the Capitol Building caught fire and burned.
Susay admits that on January 4, 2025, at about 2pm, Etheridge and he met at Hon. Koffa residence where Etheridge informed him that some police and NSA officers went to his house in search of him. Defendant Susay concluded that some friends advised Etheridge to seek refuge in any nearby country.
However, Suspect Ethridge has since denied these allegations and revealed multiple instances of alleged abuse, coercion, and fabrication as his statement sheds light on the troubling interrogation methods used to extract confessions that he claims were false and made under force.
According to him, he was pressured to falsely admit his involvement in the Capitol Building Fire incident and other activities.
He said security personnel manipulated his statements by presenting recordings taken out of context.
Ethridge: “They made a statement that indicted me saying I called people to the Boss Man house from the CDC headquarters.”
He said authorities linked him to the fire incident by associating him with others, including Eric Susee and Amos Kofa, who were supposedly involved in the protest.
“Then they said you were with Janga Kowo. You were calling Kowo and others to meet at your boss’ place. I told them that the people who you are calling I don’t know them, I only hear their names. I don’t go to CDC party headquarters. Then, they brought in another guy’s statement. I have already stayed there from 11 am to 3 pm in the underground place. They threatened to sodomize me if I do not give them what they want,” the suspect narrated.
He refuted Eric Susay’s claims that he allegedly bought gasoline for the fire, a claim Eric later refuted, asserting that he was coerced into making the statement.
The suspect added that during his time in custody, security personnel used threats of violence and even physical abuse to coerce him into providing the answers they wanted; as such, after being subjected to physical abuse, he attempted to resist the fabricated narrative by providing his own version of events, which led to further beatings. The fire incident occurred on December 18, 2024, when the Rotunda of the Joint Chambers of the Liberian Legislature gutted by fire.
Recently, the Justice in-Chambers cited both prosecuting attorneys and Thomas’ lawyers following a request for a Writ of Prohibition filed by Montserrado County lead prosecutor, Cllr. Richard Scott, seeking the Chambers Justice to halt the release of the alleged arson suspect by Judge Koiboi Nuta of Criminal Court “B” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The directive of the Chambers Justice said: “By directive of His Honor Yamie Qui-qui Gbeisay, Sr, Associate Justice presiding in Chambers, you are hereby cited to a conference with His Honor on Monday, January 20, 2025, at the hour of 10:00 am, in connection with the above captioned case.”
It can be recalled that state prosecutors were seeking the Chambers Justice to overturn Judge Nuta’s ruling in the Habeas Corpus petition which saw Suspect Etheridge being released to his guarantors.
Cllr. Scott through the Ministry of Justice took Criminal Court “B” Judge to the Chambers Justice seeking to stop him from allowing the alleged Suspect in the Capitol Building fire incident from going to hospital by himself with his relatives because they cannot be trusted.
The Habeas Corpus petition filed by Thomas’ lawyers Cllrs. Elisha Forkeyoh and Jonathan Massaquoi came after the suspect was being held in detention for three days.
But, Judge Nuta’s ruling in the Habeas Corpus case on Monday, January 13, released Thomas to his sureties to enable him to seek medical attention and return him to the court. But the state petition before Chambers Justice Gbeisay argued that Judge Nuta’s ruling went beyond the scope of the case before him.
Suspect Etheridge is said to be a staff member of the embattled House Speaker Fonati Koffa.
Etheridge was arrested on Friday, January 10, 2025, and taken to the Liberian National Police Headquarters for investigation in connection to the Capitol Building fire incident.
The matter escalated as the suspect fainted after a Writ of Arrest from the Monrovia City Court was issued against him immediately following the Judge Nuta’s ruling to have him seek medical attention in the care of his family. Later, the suspect was held with his hands and feet by state security as he was taken away to hospital.
Before he collapsed, it is reported that Ethridge told his lawyers, Cllrs. Elisha Forkeyoh and Jonathan Massaquoi, of how he was interrogated by security personnel during his 3-day detention.
Suspect Ethridge revealed multiple instances of alleged abuse, coercion, and fabrication as his statement sheds light on the troubling interrogation methods used to extract confessions that he claims were false and made under force.
According to him, he was pressured to falsely admit his involvement in the Capitol Building Fire incident and other activities. He said security personnel manipulated his statements by presenting recordings taken out of context.
Ethridge: “They made a statement that indicted me saying I called people to the Boss Man house from the CDC headquarters.” He said authorities linked him to the fire incident by associating him with others, including Eric Susee and Amos Kofa, who were supposedly involved in the protest.
“Then they said you were with Janga Kowo. You were calling Kowo and others to meet at your boss’ place. I told them that the people who you are calling I don’t know them, I only hear their names. I don’t go to CDC party headquarters. Then, they brought in another guy’s statement. I have already stayed there from 11 am to 3 pm in the underground place. They threatened to sodomize me if I do not give them what they want,” the suspect narrated.
He refuted a statement where Eric Susee allegedly said he bought gas for the fire, a claim Eric later refuted, asserting that he was coerced into making the statement.
The suspect added that during his time in custody, security personnel used threats of violence and even physical abuse to coerce him into providing the answers they wanted; as such, after being subjected to physical abuse, he attempted to resist the fabricated narrative by providing his own version of events, which led to further beatings. The fire incident occurred on December 18, 2024, when the Rotunda of the Joint Chambers of the Liberian Legislature gutted by fire.
T.Q. Lula Jaurey
