Monrovia- A writ of habeas corpus petition has been filed before the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes “B,” Montserrado County, by a legal team representing a Liberian, Thomas Etheridge, who is a resident of Brewerville.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
The writ, which is scheduled for a hearing on January 13, 2025, raises legal and constitutional questions regarding the treatment of their client, Thomas Etheridge who has been detained by Liberian security personnel.
The petitioner, represented by Cllr. Jonathan T. Massaquoi of the International Law Group, alleges that Etheridge was unlawfully detained and subjected to inhumane treatment by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
The writ asserts that Thomas Etheridge was arrested on December 18, 2024, near the Capitol Building in Monrovia and taken into custody without being charged within the constitutionally mandated 48-hour period.
According to the petition, Etheridge remains in detention as of January 10, during which time he claims to have endured torture and coercion aimed at extracting false statements.
The petition further alleges that NSA operatives, in collaboration with the LNP, violated Etheridge’s constitutional rights by detaining him beyond the lawful period and subjecting him to inhumane treatment.
Etheridge’s legal team argues that his detention violates multiple provisions of the Liberian Constitution, including Article 20(a), which guarantees liberty and security of the person, as well as due process of law, Article 21(e): Prohibiting torture and inhumane treatment of detainees, as well as Article 21(f): Mandating that arrested individuals be formally charged and presented in court within 48 hours of detention.
The petition requests the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus, compelling the respondents to produce Etheridge before the court and justify his continued detention.
The legal team is also seeking Etheridge’s immediate release and the restoration of his constitutional rights.
The writ of habeas corpus, issued by Assigned Circuit Judge J. Kennedy Peabody, commands the respondents, including the Liberia National Police, the National Security Agency, and the Ministry of Justice, to present Etheridge at the Temple of Justice on January 13, for the court to determine whether his detention aligns with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The case has garnered attention as a litmus test for Liberia’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
As of this writing, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police has issued a public response.
However, sources within the security circle have indicated that the government’s defense will likely hinge on the necessity of the detention as part of ongoing criminal investigations.
The January 13 hearing is expected to address the legality of Etheridge’s detention, as well as broader concerns about the conduct of Liberia’s security agencies.
