—Denies Motion to Suppress Evidence in Capitol Building Arson Trial Amid Medical Report of Torture without Sodomy
—But Former Speaker Koffa Vows defeat for Prosecution for lack of Evidence
By Amos Harris
Presiding Justice in chambers Her Honor Jamesetta H. Wlokollie, Associate Justice, presiding in chambers, has issued a writ of certiorari on the Arson Case involving former speaker Fonati Koffa, and eight others.
In a citation, Her Honor Wlokollie directed Judge Willie and the Ministry of justice to stay clear from all proceedings in the case pending the outcome of a conference between the parties slated for October 2,2025 @3:0P.M.
Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice has denied a motion filed by defense lawyers seeking to suppress key evidence in the ongoing Capitol Building arson trial, where more than a dozen defendants are facing multiple criminal charges in connection with the December 18, 2024 Capitol Building fire incident.
Presiding Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution will remain admissible, dismissing defense claims that it was obtained through illegal procedures and human rights violations.
Defense lawyers argued that the prosecution’s evidence should be excluded because the search and seizure process was flawed, lacking affidavits, specific names of persons to be searched, and an inventory of items collected.
They also alleged that statements obtained from the defendants by the Liberia National Police (LNP) were extracted through torture.
In response, prosecutors insisted that the claims were baseless, stressing that most of the evidence was digital and could not have been obtained through physical coercion.
“The allegation of torture is not only unfounded but intended to appeal to external sensitivities beyond this court,” Judge Willie noted, citing the prosecution’s argument.
The court further emphasized that the issue of alleged torture had already been raised during preliminary hearings and resolved. However, Judge Willie added that the medical reports provided to the court did not support the defense’s claims.
A medical examination conducted by Dr. Philips Zichinis Ireland of AMI Expeditionary Healthcare revealed that all defendants denied being sodomy but suffered Torture.
The report noted that defendants withdrew consent for genital and anal examinations, however, all medical evidence supported Torture as claimed by the defendants.
In fact, during court proceedings, the defendants themselves admitted they had not been sodomized contradicting public speculations.
“Based upon the medical reports, the facts, and the law cited herein, it is the honest view of this court that the evidence should be passed unto the trial jurors, who are clothed with the legal authority to determine the genuineness of the allegations,” Judge Willie ruled.
At the same time, the court reminded prosecutors of their obligation under Article 10(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are treated with humanity and respect for their dignity.
The defendants, including Representative J. Fonati Koffa, Dixon Seboe, Abu Kamara, Jacob Debbie, Christian Koffa, John Nyanti, Stephen Broh, Eric Susay, Kivi Bah (alias Kaba), Jerry Pokai (alias Tyrese), Thomas Etheridge, Gabriel Fansieh, Patience Bestman, Harrilyn, and Grace Johnson, face charges of arson, criminal mischief, conspiracy, solicitation, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, reckless endangerment, and distribution of force.
They are accused of orchestrating the blaze that gutted sections of the Capitol Building late last year.
With the motion to suppress denied, Judge Willie has ordered the case to proceed to trial, which has been assigned for hearing this Friday.
Minutes into Judge Willies rulling, Kivi Bah, a defendant in the high-profile Capitol Arson case, fainted in open court, leaving court officials and spectators startled.
The motion, filed by defense lawyers representing several defendants, seeks to exclude certain evidence they argue was obtained illegally or is irrelevant to the charges. Defense attorneys have now urgently requested Bah’s release, citing the need for immediate medical attention following the courtroom collapse.
Presiding over the case, Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie is expected to issue a ruling on the 32-count motion that has become a central focus of the trial. The case involves more than a dozen defendants, including J. Fonati Kofa, Dixon W. Seboe, Jacob C. Debbie, Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), Stephen M. Broh, John Nyanti, Patience Bestman, Grace Johnson, Abu Kamara, Christian Kofa, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, and Etheridge, among others yet to be identified.
The defendants face serious charges, including attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, reckless burning and explosion, criminal solicitation, facilitation, and reckless endangerment. The trial has drawn significant public attention due to both the gravity of the accusations and the number of individuals implicated.
The motion to suppress evidence is being closely watched, as its outcome could significantly shape the course of the trial. Legal experts say the court’s decision will have important implications for how evidence is treated in Liberia’s criminal justice system, especially in cases of national significance.
The case stems from one of Liberia’s most devastating incidents in recent history. On December 18, 2024, a fire broke out at the Capitol Building at around 6:20 a.m., severely damaging the nation’s legislative headquarters. Although no casualties were reported, the blaze disrupted legislative activities and exposed critical vulnerabilities in the security of government facilities, raising questions about preparedness and oversight.
As the court proceedings continue, all eyes remain on Judge Willie to deliver a ruling that could either strengthen the prosecution’s case or provide relief for the defendants. Meanwhile, the dramatic courtroom incident involving Kivi Bah underscores the intense pressure and high stakes surrounding one of Liberia’s most closely followed criminal trials.
Following the ruling by Judge Willies’s, former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa sharply dismissed the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the ruling, Koffa questioned whether prosecutors had gathered any credible material to link him and the other defendants to the December 18, 2024, blaze that gutted the Capitol Building.
“Let me comment again on the evidence because I’ve heard some lawyers talking about overwhelming evidence. Do you have eyewitnesses? No. Do you have a camera to show who lit the fire? No. Do you know who lit the fire? No. Do you have forensic evidence, fingerprint, footprint, hair fibers, and what have you, to prove your case? No. What you have is a bunch of follow-ups and a bunch of recordings, and that will not be sufficient to sustain a guilty verdict. They have nothing,” Koffa said.
He insisted that while the prosecution has repeatedly claimed to possess strong evidence, the reality shows otherwise. According to him, the record now includes medical reports and details from the preliminary investigation, but these, he argued, are insufficient to prove the defendants’ guilt.
Koffa also reacted strongly to questions about medical assessments that linked injuries sustained by some defendants to allegations of torture. He cited the report of one of the medical experts, which stated that findings were “consistent with allegations of torture,” and argued that the interpretation had been downplayed.
“You see, we’ve got to learn to read and comprehend. In Thomas Etheridge’s report, it says, ‘consistent with allegations of torture,’ period. There’s no qualification. If you look at another, Stephen M. Broh, it said, ‘consistent with allegations of torture, but could be other things.’ So you don’t just take what is convenient. You take all the reports together. What about those that were consistent? Do you know that? You don’t,” he told reporters.
Despite the setback in court, Koffa remained defiant, declaring that the case against him and his co-defendants lacked any solid foundation. “We’re going to trial with the overwhelming evidence that they say they have. Which, again, they do not have eyewitnesses. They do not have cameras to show who made the fire. They do not have forensic evidence. Imagine the LPRC evidence says the poor water quality of water and kerosene. What kind of nonsense is that?” he asked.
The Capitol Arson Trial continues to attract wide public attention as prosecutors press forward with charges of attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, reckless burning and explosion, criminal solicitation, facilitation, and reckless endangerment. The case remains one of the most closely watched in recent Liberian judicial history, given the political profile of the defendants and the destruction of the nation’s legislative headquarters
