LRA Ordered to Testify in Capitol Building Arson Trial

Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to appear and testify in the ongoing high-profile Capitol Building arson case involving defendant Thomas Etheridge and five co-defendants. The subpoena, issued on Wednesday, comes at the request of state prosecutors seeking to verify the authenticity of a US$6 million criminal appearance bond filed on behalf of the accused. The bond, presented by bondsman Patrick B. Coleman, was intended to secure the defendants’ release from the Monrovia Central Prison while awaiting trial. According to prosecutors, Section 13.4 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law requires the court to confirm that any security offered as bond is both genuine and sufficient. Prosecutors specifically requested the LRA’s testimony to authenticate property valuation records tied to the bond, including a Real Estate Tax Demand Notice (No. 030398417) and a tax payment receipt (No. 598471). They also emphasized that the LRA had previously been served with a subpoena duces tecum an order compelling the production of certain documents related to the case. Prosecutors are now pressing for the agency to clarify whether the valuation documents are accurate and whether the listed properties meet the financial threshold required by law. Defense lawyers strongly objected to the motion, arguing that such verification falls outside the scope of the ongoing trial and could prejudice their clients’ rights. They insisted that the court’s focus should remain on the substantive charges rather than the bond’s legitimacy. Judge Willie, however, dismissed the defense’s objections, ruling that the court has both the authority and the obligation to verify the bond in keeping with legal requirements. “This court must be satisfied that any bond before it meets the standards prescribed by law,” the judge stated. The LRA is expected to respond to the subpoena by providing testimony and relevant documentation in open court. Their input could prove pivotal in determining whether the defendants currently detained will be granted release pending the outcome of their trial. Once the LRA has testified, Judge Willie is expected to proceed to final arguments on the matter of bond eligibility before issuing a ruling. The Capitol Building arson case has drawn intense public and media attention, given the symbolic and political significance of the structure and the gravity of the charges against the accused. The next hearing date for the LRA’s testimony will be announced by the court.