PHOTO: Some of the defendants concerned
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia–Barely a day to file medical report to Criminal Court ‘A’ (on or before Tuesday, September 9,2025), Defense lawyers in the ongoing Capitol Building arson case has filed a five-count motion for an independent medical examination of five defendants.
The reason, it is alleged that the suspects were tortured and sodomies during investigations with both the National Security Agency (NSA) and the police. The act of torture is a grave human rights abuse and violation, according to United Nations Human Rights conventions.
The five defendants are Thomas Isaac Etheridge, John Nyanti, Stephen Broh, Christian Kofa and Eric Susay.
The defense motion states that, the Movants, in the above-entitled Action, through their Legal Counsel unto your Honor and this Honorable Court, pray for independent medical examination and respectfully aver the followings, to wit;
According to the defense, the Movants are the party to Co-Defendants charged for the alleged commission of the crimes: Arson, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Solicitation, Criminal Intent to commit murder, Aggravated Assault, Illegal Possession of Firearm, Release of destructive Forces, recklessly endangering Another person & Theft of Property now pending before this Court undetermined.
The motion avers that, further to count One (1) above, the Movants submit and say that they were egregiously tortured by Agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Liberia National Police (LNP) at the Headquarters of the NSA and, as a result, for the past months, the Movants have been experiencing severe pain when urinating, they have likewise the reddish color of their urine. More than this, the Movants aver that those Agents flashed bright lights in their faces which have caused them blurred vision, is found wanting and evil.
Count three says, because further as to count Two (2) above, the above statements/conditions are not only symptoms of urinating tract infection and blurred vision, but the consequence of the severe beating and water bolding being perpetrated against their persons by those Agents of the NSA and LNP in gross violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1986 Constitutional of Liberia.
More than this, the Movants aver that if they are not properly medically examined or treated by a team of independent medical practitioners other than the government owned John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital, their infections and appalling conditions could graduate to a more severe case that could lead to their deaths, contrary to law. Furthermore, the Movants say that due to these egregious human rights abuses and violations against their persons by State security apparatus, they do not have confidence and trust in related government agencies to perform any medical examination for reasons stated herein.
The Movants submit and say that because the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice and National Security Agency is prosecuting this Capitol Building arson case and, as such, the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital as a parastatal of the government is not clothed with the requisite independence to conduct this medical examination. Moreover, the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital has executed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Justice to treat pretrial detainees or prisoners, giving it a pecuniary motive, which may force a result in favor of the government denial of the Defendants’ claims for reasons stated herein.
And also, because further as to counts Four (4) & five (5) above, the Movants are praying for compassion and humanitarian consideration from your Honor and this Court to allow them to be immediately taken to a team of independent medical practitioners for the required medical examination.
The defense says, the government denial of the Defendants’ claims for reasons stated herein.And also, because further as to counts Four (4) & five (5) above, the Movants are praying for compassion and humanitarian consideration from your Honor and this Court to allow them to be immediately taken a team of independent medical practitioners for the required medical checkup and treatment. Hence, this motion for independent medical examination is filed solely for the purpose as stated and is not intended for any other reasons.
“And also, because further as to the counts above, the Movants aver that they are unfit for further pretrial detention because of the medical reasons as your Honor and this Honorable Court will see from the bruises and scares on their person in substantiation of their claims against the State and its parastatals, amongst others. Hence, this Motion for Independent Medical Examination will lie under the given circumstances.
Wherefore and in view of the foregoing peculiar facts and legal circumstances, the Movants pray your Honor and this Honorable Court for a judgment declaring as follows to wit:
- Enter a judgment, granting Movants’ Motion for Independent Medical Examination, and
ii Grant unto Movants all further relief that will be fair, just and legal.