MONROVIA – The case against Chinese investor Michael Shio has taken a dramatic turn following the release of an official medical report from ELWA Hospital, contradicting claims that he poured hot oil on alleged victim Momoh David.
Emmanuel Jones, contributing writer
The findings have raised serious concerns about a potential orchestrated smear campaign involving Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director General Eugene Fahngon, who has been a vocal critic of Shio.
On February 19, the Monrovia City Court received the official medical report from ELWA Hospital after issuing a writ of subpoena duces tecum. The report, signed by Dr. Juvenal Musavuli Maghuta, a Consultant surgeon, contradicts earlier allegations that David was tortured with hot oil by Shio on January 13, 2025.
Key Findings from the ELWA Medical Report
- David was admitted to ELWA Hospital on January 17, 2025, at 11:41 PM—four days after the alleged attack.
- The injuries were caused by fire, not hot oil.
- The burns occurred approximately 24 hours before David’s hospital admission, meaning he was injured around January 16—not January 13, as initially claimed.
According to some residence of Congo Town, these findings directly contradict the narrative promoted by Eugene Fahngon and LBS, raising concerns about misinformation and potential manipulation of the legal system.
Contradictions and Discrepancies
Despite the inconsistencies, Fahngon and state-owned LBS aggressively pushed the story that Shio tortured David. In a February 12, 2025, Facebook Live broadcast, Fahngon was seen prompting David to make misleading statements. In the video, Fahngon repeatedly insinuated that David had been hospitalized since January 13, though David never confirmed this himself.
At the 4-minute mark of the video, Fahngon asked, “My understanding is that you spent three days in that compound, is that true?” David did not answer, but his mother replied, “yes.”
This claim contradicts police records, which indicate that David was caught stealing on January 13 at 9:00 AM and brought to Zone 3 Police Station by 10:30 AM—making it impossible for him to have been held captive for three days. David further contradicted himself in a February 17 Spoon TV interview, where he admitted being taken to the police station on the same day as the alleged assault.
David’s History of Criminal Activity
Further investigation into Momoh David’s background reveals a history of theft and multiple encounters with mob justice:
- January 10, 2025 – Caught stealing wires from a Lone Star Tower; beaten by a mob. Incident recorded at Zone 3 Police Station.
- January 11, 2025 – Assaulted again after being caught stealing near Sando Cooper’s residence in Congo Town.
- January 12, 2025 – Tortured by a mob after another theft attempt, brought to Zone 3 Police Station but escaped en route to medical treatment.
- January 13, 2025 – Caught stealing a solar panel at Michael Shio’s construction site opposite RC Lawson School.
These repeated incidents suggest that David was involved in criminal activities and frequently suffered mob justice attacks, making it highly plausible that his burns resulted from a separate fire-related incident rather than an attack by Shio.
Father and Family Members Deny Claims
David’s father, Eddie David, has dismissed allegations that his son was tortured by Shio. Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Eddie David stated that his son was not beaten inside Shio’s compound but was instead attacked by community dwellers after attempting to steal solar lights.
“My son was severely beaten by the community dwellers of Congo Town back road. I was on a shift that night working in Shio’s compound and heard the noise outside. When I came out, I saw my son being beaten for stealing solar lights on Shio’s property. I intervened along with two others to calm the situation and took him inside the fence to inform Shio about what had happened. Shio then gave us US$20 to take him to the police station,” Eddie David recounted.
He further alleged that certain individuals were exploiting the situation to tarnish Shio’s reputation and subject him to public ridicule.
Another family member, Joyce Teta Teage, also provided a statement to the police contradicting the initial allegations. She confirmed that David’s burn injuries occurred on January 17, 2025—not January 13, 2025, as previously alleged. The ELWA medical report supports this claim, stating that David was admitted at 11:41 PM on January 17, 2025, and that his burns occurred approximately 24 hours before admission, placing the incident around January 16 or 17.
Legal and Political Implications
The situation has drawn the attention of Liberia’s judicial system, with Shio facing charges including criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, and felonious restraint for his alleged involvement in the brutal assault of Momoh David.
Emerging reports suggest that Eugene Fahngon, who has been pushing for Shio’s prosecution, is allegedly being influenced by Shio’s business rival in the mining sector. Fahngon is accused of using state-owned media to manipulate public sentiment against Shio.
Additionally, Fahngon is accused of influencing some lawmakers to pressure the House of Representatives into interfering in the case pending before Criminal Court A and advocating for Shio’s deportation without following due legal process.
Fahngon has not responded to these latest allegations, but in recent days, he has called for the prosecution of Shio and alleged accomplices.
As the case unfolds, questions remain: Was this a genuine criminal case or a politically and financially motivated attack on a business rival?
