MONROVIA – The Criminal Court, presided over by Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, has refused bail to several defendants involved in the high-profile Property Valuation Bond case, ruling that critical documents presented in their defense were “faked, fraudulent, and invalid.”
The defendants, Christian Koffa, John Nyanti, Eric Susay, Thomas Isaac Etheridge, Gabriel Fansieh, and Stephen Broh, were ordered to remain in custody pending verification of the bond’s legal validity. According to the court, the documents were examined and deemed invalid by Mr. James Afif Jabar, Assistant Commissioner of the Liberia Revenue Authority’s Real Estate Tax Division.
Judge Willie’s ruling, handed down on Thursday, August 21, 2025, suspended further proceedings while noting that three of the defendants, Christian Koffa, Gabriel Fansieh, and Stephen Broh, were not considered flight risks. These defendants may be released if they can legally correct the fraudulent transactions and validate the Property Valuation Bond to the court’s satisfaction.
This decision emphasizes the court’s strict stance against fraudulent documentation and highlights the seriousness with which Liberia’s judiciary treats property-related offenses. Analysts say the ruling sends a strong signal that financial and real estate integrity will be rigorously enforced.
The case is linked to prior testimony in the Capitol Arson trial, where the Liberia Revenue Authority revealed that tax documents submitted for Thomas Etheridge’s US$2.8 million bond were forged. The LRA identified fake property valuations, invalid receipts, and inconsistencies with official records, all of which were accepted by the court in its decision to deny bail.
The defendants’ legal team failed to appear during Thursday’s proceedings, further complicating their bid for release. The court clarified that no defendant will be freed until proper corrections to the bond documents are made and legally verified.
Legal experts note that this ruling may set an important precedent for handling fraudulent property transactions and bonds in Liberia, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in the country’s real estate and financial sectors.
