Was Arson Suspect Thomas Etheridge Really Tortured?
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The grounds of the Temple of Justice, seat of the Liberian Judiciary was scene of attraction when the main suspect in the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building, Thomas Etheridge was released by Criminal Court “B” to seek medical treatment, after claims he was being tortured by state security forces.
At a news conference held at the LNP headquarter today, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, he disclosed that the December 18,2024 fire incident that engulfed the joint chambers at the Capitol building is one hundred percent arson attack. Police Confirm Arson Attack Set Liberia’s Capitol Building Ablaze, But Who Are The Culprits? – News Public Trust
Suspect Etheridge was released Monday, January 13, 2025, following a writ of Habeas corpus filed his team of lawyers headed by Cllr. Jonathan Massaquoi.
A writ of habeas corpus is a court order that requires the custodian of a person in custody to bring that person before a court. The purpose of the writ is to determine if the detention is lawful.
Moments after he was released to be taken to hospital, writ of arrest was issued on him by state lawyers when he allegedly fainted but at last he was taken to the Ami medical center near the Stella Maris Polytechnic.
The petitioner petition reads; petitioner says that he was arrested by ERU police officers of co-respondent Liberian National Police on Wednesday December 18,2024, between 6:10am to 7:00 am right in front of the Capitol building located at Capitol Hill and taken to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police where he was immediately detained and apparently questioned and made to writ statement regarding the knowledge and participation in an allegation of Criminal offense contrary to law to performance and official duties.
Count two of the petition states that, the constitutional requirement forty- eight hours for security personnel to detain a suspect for Criminal Investigative reasons as required by law and yet still the respondents continue to have petitioner incarcerated and have unlawful inflicted torture and humane treatments upon him by the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency up to and then including January 10,2025 all done with the sole intent of compelling the petitioner to give false statements and evidence against himself which is incriminating and unconstitutional contrary to law.
And also, because petitioner says, after being detained by co-respondent LNP, the said, Liberia National police within forty-eight-hour period now decided to turn him over to strange men believed to be from the National Security Agency and thereby restraint his liberty under the canopy of so-called criminal investigation and detention power which has violated his fundamental human rights and constitutional rights.
On the other hand, state lawyers(respondent) stated that as to count one of the petitioner respondent rejects the averment that Mr. Thomas Etheridge is a law biding citizen. Respondent said, the said Thomas Etheridge is currently being investigated for his participation in the commission that threaten the National Security of Liberia.
As to count two of the petitioner’s petition, respondent says that the notations Thomas Etheridge was arrested on Wednesday, December18,2024, between the hours of 6:10-7:00 am as claimed in the petitioner petition is false and misleading, since in fact Thomas Etheridge was arrested in the later part of last week in January 2025 particularly or specifically Friday January 10,2025.
Regarding count three of the petitioner’s petition, respondent says, it is malicious for the petitioner to claimed he has been compelled to make false statements against himself.
That the respondent/ Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency are integrity institutions and as such, apply professionalism on their respective duties.
As to count six and seven of petitioner’s petition, respondent says that it is unlawful for petitioner counsels to claimed that the Liberia National police and the National Security Agency have circumvented the law and constitution and subject alleged suspect to torture and humane treatment among others.
Meanwhile, the court granted the writ of Habeas corpus filed by the suspect lawyers on grounds that the suspect should be taken to hospital but prosecution said, they agreed in part with the Judge ruling but wants for the suspect to be under the authority of the court.