Following accusations of torture by state security officers, Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, has ordered New medical examination for suspects in the arson case involving the Capitol Building.
This new directive comes after the defendants rejected two prior medical facilities including the state-run John F. Kenedy Medical Center (JFK) as biased, Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie appointed the international firm AMI Expeditionary Healthcare Medical Center to conduct the examinations. However, a leaked of the results of the Examination seen by the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper proved positive of torture and other inhumane treated to suspects.
Late Tuesday, Several sources at the private run medical center, AMI says medical examination conducted on two of the suspects in the capitol arson case involving former House Speaker Fonati Koffa and other, have established severe tortured with a likelihood of future damages if treatment is not done quickly.
The examination according to the source was conducted on Tuesday night. Interestingly, Police Commissioner General Colman was spotted within the premises of the AMI even though it remains unclear why was he there.
Portion of the examination report detailed physician recommendation for quick medical attention or else he may suffer from serious complications in the near future.
Recently serious contention sparked between prosecution lawyers and the defense team of the accused for the used of JFK Medical center for the examination. But defense LAWYERS opted for a private hospital rather than JFK which is a government run facility.
In early September, Six defendants currently facing trial in one of Liberia’s most politically charged arson cases filed a formal Motion for Independent Medical Examination before the First Judicial Circuit Court, Criminal Assizes “A”, citing allegations of severe torture at the hands of state security officers and expressed mistrust in the government-owned John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
The defendants, Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, Thomas Etheridge, and Stephen Broh are jointly charged with multiple capital and felony offenses including arson, criminal mischief, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, and intent to commit murder, stemming from the Capitol Building fire incident earlier this year.
In a motion submitted on Monday, September 8,2025, the defense team argued that the accused were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment during interrogation by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP).
According to the motion, the defendants are currently suffering from urinary complications, blurred vision and bruises allegedly resulting from waterboarding, physical beatings, and exposure to intense lighting, conditions they believe require immediate and impartial medical evaluation.
“These symptoms are not coincidental. They are consistent with the injuries caused by the physical and psychological torture these young men endured while in state custody,” stated Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson, one of the lead defense attorneys, following a recent argument into motion to suppress evidence filed by the Prosecution.
The motion emphasized that the JFK Medical Center, being a government-owned and operated facility, lacks the independence and neutrality required to conduct an objective medical assessment in a case being prosecuted by the same government.
This is not the first time Cllr. Johnson has raised alarm over the use of JFK Medical Center in sensitive criminal matters.
Meanwhile, a Panoramic Justice Group, based in Washington D.C. says it has credible intelligence that the Liberian Government is preparing to engage in political manipulation in the ongoing Capitol Arson case, with the intent of securing a predetermined guilty verdict against the accused defendants.
Such interference would not only undermine the integrity of the judicial process, but also constitute a grave violation of the defendants’ fundamental right to a fair and impartial trial.
Reports further indicate that this scheme is being directed at the highest levels of government, including Director of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), Sam Gaye; Inspector General of Police, Greg Coleman; National Security Advisor, Samuel Kofi Woods; and Minister of Justice, Oswald Tweh.
Their alleged involvement according to the Washington based group is deeply troubling, particularly in light of longstanding concerns regarding Liberia’s state security agencies, which have been implicated in torture, extrajudicial killings, and other serious abuses—as documented in the 2024 U.S. Department of State Report on Liberia (released in 2025).
“Such conduct raises serious issues of conflict of interest, accountability, and obstruction of justice. These senior officials are fully aware that their actions may trigger international legal consequences”. the Washington Based Panoramic Justice Group Stated.
The statement further noted that several of these officials, along with other members of state security agencies, reportedly hold legal status in Western jurisdictions. This reality heightens the international dimension of these allegations. If substantiated, the actions described would not only breach Liberian law, but also contravene international human rights obligations to which Liberia is bound, exposing those involved to potential accountability under international and extraterritorial legal frameworks.
Up to press time the Independent Probe did not get any reply from those named in the planned predetermined guilty verdict. Investigation continues
Last Wednesday’s September 10 hearing, a motion filed by the defense to suppress evidence, which they argued was illegally obtained from the defendants, was postponed for the second time by Judge Roosevelt Willie in Criminal Court “A.”
Sources tell the authoritative Independent Probe that Judge Willie is reportedly facing significant pressure from some members of the executive (prosecution).
It may be recalled, Judge Willie initially approved bail bond for Tom Edgridge and others to be released until trail would commence but later reversed his decision, allegedly due to pressure.
In a earlier argument, defense lawyers and prosecution tussle over the right to use the JFK Medical center to conduct examination of the defendants who alleged being tempered with.
The Defense Lawyers for Independent Medical Examiner, Movants, through their counsel, International Law Group, LLC, submitted a motion for an independent medical examination.
Movants motion before his honor, Roosevelt Willie, resident circuit judge made available their names relating to allegations against their clients who are the Co-defendants charged for the alleged crimes of : ‘Arson, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal intent to commit murder, Aggravated Assault, Illegal possession of Firearm, Release of destructive Forces, recklessly endangering another person and Theft of property case.
Individuals alleged include; Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, Thomas Etheridge and Stephen Broh.
The motion, dated September 2025, requests that the Honorable Court grant Movants’ request for a medical examination to be conducted by a neutral third-party expert.
According to the motion, Movants has agreed to undergo a medical examination as ordered by the Court. The purpose of the examination is not specified in the document, but it is believed to be related to an ongoing legal matter. Lawyers represented by the movants however said, their clients in narration told them, ‘they were severely tortured by agents of National Security AGENCY(NSA) and members of the Liberia National Police(LNP) at the headquarters of the NSA, as a result, since the incident, they have been experiencing severe pain when disposing urine most especially the the reddish color of the urine. Movants lawyers however said, according to their clients, agents that apprehended them flashed bright lights in their faces which have caused them blurred vision describing as wanton and develished.
Meanwhile, Filing an appeal to his honor, Roosevelt Willie, movants submit that because the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice and National Security Agency in prosecuting the Capitol Building arson case, and as such, the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital as government parastatal is not clothed with the requisite independence to conducting their medical examination for fair and transparent trial.
Arson investigation background
The blaze on the Capitol Building joint Chambers, occurred on December 2024 and destroyed the joint chambers of the Liberian legislature. Amid a power struggle between rival factions reportedly preceded the incident.
Following the fire, authorities arrested several individuals, including former Speaker of the House Jonathan Fonati Koffa and other lawmakers. They were charged with arson, criminal mischief, and other offenses.
In their defense, the suspects claimed they were subjected to torture and mistreatment, including waterboarding, physical beatings, and sleep deprivation, by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Liberia National Police (LNP) during interrogation. Some claim state agents tried to coerce them into making false statements implicating former Speaker Koffa.
Ordered medical examinations
In early September 2025, defense lawyers filed a motion for an independent medical examination to verify their clients’ claims of torture.
Judge Willie initially ordered the government-run John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center to perform the examination. However, the defense rejected this, citing a conflict of interest, as JFK has ties to the Ministry of Justice.
Court’s second selection: On September 11, Judge Willie selected AMI Expeditionary Healthcare Medical Center, an international facility, for the examination. The court also ordered the Ministry of Justice to pay for the exams.
The defense team again rejected the court’s choice, arguing that AMI has a pre-existing contract with the Liberian government and is not truly independent.
What happens next?
This case has been marked by a standoff between the defense and the court over the impartiality of the medical examination. The outcome of the medical review could significantly impact the ongoing trial and the government’s case against the suspects.
