Prosecutors are challenging Judge Nuta’s decision to release Etheridge into the custody of guarantors for medical treatment.
Monrovia – Associate Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay, Sr., sitting in Chambers, is set to hear a petition for a Writ of Prohibition on Monday, January 20. The petition, filed by state prosecutors, seeks to overturn a ruling by Judge Koiboi Nuta of Criminal Court “B” regarding Thomas Etheridge, the alleged suspect in the Capitol Building fire incident.
By Jackie Dennis, Contributing Writer
Prosecutors are challenging Judge Nuta’s decision to release Etheridge into the custody of guarantors for medical treatment. They argue that the ruling jeopardizes the investigation and accountability in the Capitol Building fire incident.
Judge Nuta’s Ruling
On January 13, Judge Nuta ruled in favor of the petition for Habeas Corpus filed by Etheridge’s lawyers, citing concerns about the suspect’s health and alleged torture while in custody.
Judge Nuta stated: “Given the allegations in the petition, specifically regarding the petitioner being tortured, this court, lacking immediate authority to verify the physical condition of the petitioner, releases the petitioner into the custody of a guarantor approved by this court. The guarantor must ensure that the petitioner is taken to a credible health facility, and a medical report must be submitted by January 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM. The court cannot ignore concerns regarding the petitioner’s life without credible verification.”
The judge also ordered Etheridge’s legal team to provide three satisfactory guarantors before his release.
State Prosecutors’ objection
Prosecutors immediately objected to the ruling, arguing that the responsibility for verifying Etheridge’s health should remain with the court rather than external guarantors. They expressed distrust in any arrangement outside the court’s direct oversight and formally noted their exception to the decision.
Etheridge is accused of being involved in the December 2024 fire that engulfed portions of the Capitol Building, causing significant damage. He was arrested by the Liberia National Police on January 10, 2025, and remains under investigation at police headquarters on Capitol Hill, Monrovia.
Following his arrest, Etheridge’s lawyers filed a petition for Habeas Corpus, demanding that the government present him before the court to determine the legality of his detention. Judge Nuta’s ruling led to Etheridge’s conditional release to guarantors for medical care, sparking controversy and the subsequent petition for prohibition by state prosecutors.
The outcome of Associate Justice Gbeisay’s hearing could have significant implications for the investigation and legal proceedings in the Capitol Building fire incident.
