By Jacqueline Dennis
MONROVIA – Former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, along with several other individuals, including three sitting lawmakers, will undergo a full trial during the August Term of Court before Judge Roosevelt Willie of Criminal Court “A.” The critical question is whether the pieces of evidence outlined in the indictment is sufficient to link Koffa and the other lawmakers to the arson incident.
The Government of Liberia, through the Special Grand Jury for Montserrado County, has indicted several individuals, including members of the House of Representatives – Dixon Seboe, Jacob Debee, Abu Kamara, and Koffa – on several charges.
These defendants are charged with multiple offenses including Arson, Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy Criminal Facilitation Criminal Solicitation, Release of Destructive Forces and Recklessly Endangering Another Person
The prosecution’s case revolves around audio recordings attributed to some of the defendants, allegedly linking former Speaker Koffa and others to the burning of the Capitol Building in December 2024. The indictment includes conversations among the defendants discussing their plan to set the joint chambers on fire.
According to the indictment, on November 10, 2024, and December 18, 2024, co-defendants Kivi Bah, Jerry Pokah, John Nyanti, Stephen M. Broh, Christian Kofa, Amos Kofa, Eric Sesay, Janjay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, and others intentionally set the joint chambers of the Capitol Building ablaze.
While the indictment claims that Koffa and the other lawmakers facilitated this crime, it does not specify how these four lawmakers supported the individuals in allegedly burning down the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building. The damage caused by the fire is estimated to cost millions of dollars.
Furthermore, on December 17, 2024, in the morning after extensive planning the night before, co-defendants, including Christian Kofa, allegedly procured gasoline and subsequently set the joint chambers on fire, damaging chairs and cutting electric and electronic wires in the Capitol Building.
The indictment reveals that co-defendant Eric Susay, while planning the attack on December 17, 2024, was recorded on audio using GSM number +231770397654. He informed Co-defendant Thomas Isaac Etheridge that the group was ready to receive gasoline to commence the arson attack on the Capitol Building. In another audio recording, Susay is heard discussing an incident in which they incapacitated a police officer, Sgt. Amara Bility, and took his service weapon, handing it over to former EPS officers.
Moreover, on December 17, 2024, Susay expressed frustration to Etheridge about not being able to reach Co-defendant Janjay, and he requests money from Etheridge to purchase gasoline and prepare petrol bombs to use against police officers and Rep. James Kolleh of the ‘Majority Bloc’ in Congo Town, as well as at the LRJ Hotel where the majority bloc meets.
The indictment further indicates that on the same night of planning, co-defendants Amos Koffa and Thomas Etheridge discussed the execution of the operation, which involved positioning individuals to participate in the burning of the Capitol Building and planning to shoot any police officers who attempted to intervene.
On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, with the support and facilitation of co-defendants Dixon W. Seboe, J. Fonati Koffa, Abu B. Kamara, and Jacob C. Debee, co-defendants Kivi Bah (alias Kaba), Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), John Nyanti, Stephen M. Broh, Christian Kofa, Amos Kofa, Eric Susay, Janjay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge (aka Tom), and others are alleged to have intentionally set the Capitol Building ablaze in 2024.
