-Amid Torture Allegations
By Jerromie S. Walters
Thomas Etheridge, one of the suspects accused of allegedly burning the Capitol building, collapsed in the court yard at the Temple of Justice up Capitol Hill on Monday, January 13, 2025. He was taken to the AMI hospital on 1st Street, Sinkor for medical attention.
Police officers of the Liberia National Police were previously dispatched to the entrance of the hospital awaiting Thomas’ recovery but they later departed the scene.
The Writ of Habeas Corpus
Thomas collapsed after he was taken to Court on Monday following a writ of habeas corpus that was filed for a hearing scheduled on the same day (January 13, 2025). Represented by Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi of the International Law Group, the petition alleges Etheridge has faced unlawful detention and inhumane treatment by the LNP and the National Security Agency (NSA).
According to the petition, Etheridge was arrested on December 18, 2024, near the Capitol and taken into custody without formal charges within the constitutionally mandated 48-hour timeframe.
The legal team argues that the NSA and LNP violated Etheridge’s constitutional rights by extending his detention beyond legal limits and subjecting him to cruel treatment. They assert this conduct breaches several provisions of the Liberian Constitution, including Article 20(a), which guarantees personal liberty, and Article 21(e), which prohibits torture.
Additionally, they cite Article 21(f), mandating that arrested individuals must be formally charged and presented in court within 48 hours. The petition calls for a writ of habeas corpus to compel authorities to produce Etheridge in court and justify his detention.
Tortured Under Detention
In an audio recording, Thomas Etheridge accused the agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) of torture and gross human rights violations, claiming he was subjected to extreme methods including boiling water torture, beatings, and intimidation with a snake.
He alleges that State security forced him to make an implicating statement regarding the Capitol building fire incident, and when he refused to sign a prepared statement, he was taken to an unknown location and beaten for hours. Etheridge was brought to court today following a writ of habeas corpus filed by his lawyers, which mandates that a detained individual be produced before the court.
Rule of Law Caucus Frowns on “creation of a police state”
The Rule of Law Caucus, led by Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Bility, recently raised alarms about threats to Liberia’s peace and democratic progress. “We will not tolerate the creation of a police state. The Liberian people must stand united against these actions and demand accountability,” Bility stated.
This warning follows the detention of Gibson Toe and Thomas Etheridge, staffers of House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa, by the Liberia National Police (LNP) in connection with the burning of the Capitol Building.
In a press statement over the weekend, Representative Musa Hassan Bility criticized the government’s actions, including arbitrary arrests and allegations of torture linked to the Capitol fire. He described these developments as a troubling shift towards authoritarianism.
Representative Bility condemned the arrests, noting they occurred without proper charges or transparency. He called these actions blatant attempts to intimidate lawmakers and stifle dissent. “This abuse of state power by police and security agencies undermines the rule of law and poses a grave risk of plunging Liberia back into chaos,” he asserted.
The Fire Incident
Early Wednesday, December 18, 2024, residents of Capitol Hill and nearby communities were awakened by a fierce blaze engulfing the Capitol, the seat of the Liberian Legislature. The fire quickly intensified, causing significant damage, particularly in the Joint Chambers and adjacent areas.
Joint Security reported last week that the Capitol fire was an act of arson. Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman announced there is sufficient evidence to support this conclusion. “We have identified people of interest, and if they fail to come forward, we will have them arrested,” Coleman stated during a press conference.
Many Liberians have questioned the investigation, citing comments made by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who seemed to predict the investigation’s outcome before it started.
