MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A series of explosive revelations surrounding allegations of torture against Chinese national Michael Shio have raised serious doubts about the credibility of the accusations, shedding light on an apparent conspiracy to frame him.
Momoh David, a resident of Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, who was previously reported to have been tortured by Shio, has now admitted that the entire story was fabricated under pressure from Eugene Fahngon, Managing Director of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). David, who recently became closely associated with Fahngon, exposed the manipulation and coercion behind the false accusations in a statement to the Justice of the Peace Office in Montserrado County.
David first made headlines on February 12, 2025, when Eugene Fahngon, along with an LBS crew, conducted a live interview with him, which was later posted on LNTV and Fahngon’s Facebook pages. The interview appears to have been staged-managed, with Fahngon narrating the entire case while David was only required to answer “yes” or “no.” Interestingly, Fahngon even made contradictory statements, claiming that David was allegedly tortured on January 13, 2025, and hospitalized on the same day—but later suggesting that David had been detained at Shio’s residence for three days.
According to a formal complaint filed by Michael Shio, Fahngon, along with five LBS employees and media equipment, entered the Crime Against Person Unit at the Liberia National Police (LNP) on February 10, 2025, attempting to interview Shio while he was providing an additional statement to the police. Due to Shio’s resistance and the officers’ refusal, Fahngon exited the office. Surprisingly, when Fahngon conducted his interview with David on February 12, 2025, he falsely pretended that the police were unaware of the case, further claiming he would call the Inspector General (IG) of the LNP to report it.
Further, the complaint reveals that on February 13, 2025, while the police were forwarding the case to the Monrovia City Court, and Shio and others were seated before the Bench, Fahngon entered the office of Judge Ben Barco, where he remained for close to 30 minutes. Shortly afterward, Associate Magistrate Andrew Bopleh entered the same office. Upon exiting, Fahngon instructed his colleagues to enter the courtroom, where they took a photograph of Shio, despite photography being prohibited, and posted it on LNTV’s official Facebook page with the caption:
“A Chinese national identified as Michael Sio, who brutalized a Liberian, Momoh David, in the Congo Town area, is currently at the Monrovia City Court…”
This publication serves as clear evidence of Eugene Fahngon’s abuse of power as Director General of LBS to defame, prejudice, and incite public sentiment against Shio.
The story, initially orchestrated by Fahngon and LBS, quickly gained traction as media outlets, citing unnamed sources, claimed that David had been tortured by Shio. These allegations included graphic details of physical abuse, such as the application of hot oil and the release of a dog to bite David.
However, new evidence has emerged challenging these claims and casting doubt over the initial reports. In an exclusive interview with Freedom Radio in Monrovia, David explicitly stated that Shio had no involvement in the situation. He accused Fahngon of masterminding false statements against Shio and confirmed to journalists that the sworn affidavit he gave at the Justice of the Peace Office was true, emphasizing that Shio did not torture him. He further alleged that Fahngon provided US$1,500 to their community chairlady, Onikeh B. Flomo, to hire gang members to burn down Shio’s building.
According to David, despite Fahngon’s promise to build him a concrete house, the commitment was never fulfilled. His statements in the Freedom Radio interview were consistent with those he previously made at the Justice of the Peace Office, reaffirming that he was never kidnapped by his father, Shio, or anyone else.
David also revealed that following his arrest on January 13, 2025, at no point did Shio or his security personnel harm him. Instead, he explained that his injuries resulted from an electrical fire caused by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) in Rehab, Paynesville City, on January 17, 2025, which led to severe burns. He was subsequently admitted to ELWA Hospital on the same day, a fact that corresponds with his sister’s statement given at the police station.
David’s confession did not stop there. On February 8, 2025, 28 days after David left the Shio’s compound, Officer R13 from Zone 3 Police Station allegedly coerced him into signing a backdated statement falsely accusing Shio of:
- Pepper-spraying him unconscious
- Pouring hot oil on him and Releasing a dog to attack him while he was unconscious
The plot thickened when Fahngon, a prominent figure in Liberia’s media landscape, became even more deeply involved. David revealed that Fahngon personally promised him a concrete house in exchange for fabricating the torture claims. As part of the deal, Fahngon gave David’s mother US$500, six bags of rice, cooking oil, and bottled water. Additionally, Fahngon allegedly paid US$500 each to other individuals, including Chairlady Oneikeh B. Flomo, to provide false testimony against Shio.
To strengthen the fabricated case, David was coached by Fahngon on how to narrate a false version of events in a recorded interview, which was later used to manipulate public perception. Fahngon allegedly planned to use the case to influence the Monrovia City Court, ensuring that Shio’s bail request would be rejected and the staged court proceedings would be televised on LNTV to damage Shio’s reputation.
A medical report from ELWA Hospital, obtained by Smart News Liberia, confirmed that David’s injuries resulted from the fire on January 17, 2025, directly contradicting the torture allegations. His sister, Joyce T. Teage, also corroborated that David suffered burns from the fire and was admitted to the hospital on the same day.
On March 21, 2025, in a shocking interview, David reaffirmed that Fahngon had promised him a house in exchange for making false claims against Shio. His latest revelations have cast serious doubts on Fahngon’s integrity and exposed the depth of the conspiracy.
As the investigation continues, the unfolding saga raises critical concerns about the manipulation of the justice system and the extent to which powerful figures in Liberia can exploit legal processes for personal advantage.
