In a significant turn in the Capitol arson trial, defense attorneys representing six co-defendants have filed a motion before Criminal Court “A” at the First Judicial Circuit, seeking court approval for an independent medical examination.
The request follows grave allegations of torture, public humiliation, and sexual abuse allegedly committed by state security agents during the defendants’ detention.
The motion, filed on behalf of Christian Kofa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac, Thomas Etheridge, and Stephen Broh—each facing charges related to the alleged arson at the Capitol Building—challenges the credibility of medical evaluations conducted at John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), Liberia’s largest public hospital.
Defense lawyers argue that JFK’s institutional ties to the Ministry of Justice, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, compromise its neutrality in cases involving alleged state abuse.
According to the motion, agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) allegedly subjected the defendants to degrading treatment during arrest and detention. The document details claims that the men were stripped naked in public view at both NSA and LNP headquarters and forced to bathe in front of one another—acts described by the defense as violations of privacy, dignity, and fundamental human rights.
The motion further alleges that security agents documented the incidents through photographs and video recordings, compounding the psychological trauma inflicted on the detainees.
Challenge to State-Run Medical Oversight
The defense strongly objects to any medical assessments being conducted at JFK, citing concerns over institutional bias and lack of independence. Instead, they are requesting that a neutral panel of independent medical professionals be appointed to evaluate both the physical and psychological condition of the accused.
This demand follows courtroom assertions that the defendants were allegedly sodomized while in custody—claims that, if substantiated, could have serious legal and human rights implications for the agencies involved.
The motion raises urgent questions about the treatment of detainees in Liberia’s criminal justice system and the role of state institutions in upholding human rights. As the trial proceeds, the court’s decision on the medical examination request may set a precedent for how allegations of abuse are investigated and adjudicated in politically sensitive cases.
