MONROVIA – A leaked medico-legal report conducted at AMI Expeditionary Healthcare in Sinkor, Monrovia, has confirmed that Thomas Etheridge, a 40-year-old Liberian male, exhibits physical and psychological symptoms highly consistent with allegations of torture during his detention by government agents nine months ago. The examination, carried out by Dr. Philip Zochonis Ireland, a leading consultant physician and director of the Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolic Disease Unit at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, was conducted in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol standards for the documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
The report details that Etheridge sustained multiple injuries, including blunt force trauma to the neck and right eye, dislocation of the right shoulder, and generalized body trauma. Psychological assessment revealed severe anxiety, hypervigilance, chronic sleep disturbances, and signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to Dr. Ireland, the combination of physical findings, patient history, and ongoing psychological manifestations is highly consistent with sustained torture and ill-treatment.
Etheridge recounted being apprehended by government agents and subjected to repeated beatings with handcuffs and batons, during which he was stripped naked and physically assaulted across multiple areas of his body. He reported no sexual assault. The examination also noted current complaints of severe intermittent headaches, blurred vision and partial loss in the left eye, left flank pain, and intermittent palpitations.
Physical examination confirmed that while Etheridge appeared adequately nourished and cooperative, he displayed heightened anxiety and hypervigilance. Vital signs indicated elevated blood pressure, and auscultation revealed an irregular heart rhythm. Neurological assessment showed intact motor and sensory function, but psychological observations suggested acute trauma consistent with PTSD. Dr. Ireland recommended urgent cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedic, and psychological evaluations, alongside secure preservation of all medical documentation for potential judicial proceedings.
The examination was conducted following a directive issued by Criminal Court “A,” presided over by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, which mandated AMI Expeditionary Healthcare to assess whether Etheridge and other defendants were tortured or otherwise ill-treated while in custody between December 18, 2024, and June 30, 2025. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for covering the costs associated with the medical examinations.
“This report has been prepared in accordance with international standards, and reflects my independent professional opinion based on the clinical examination, patient history, and available evidence,” Dr. Ireland stated. He emphasized that the findings are highly consistent with allegations of torture and reinforce the need for comprehensive medical and psychological care for the patient.
It is worth noting that Thomas Etheridge, along with defendants Thomas Kivi Bah (alias Kaba), Jerry Pokah (alias Tyrese), Stephen M. Broh, John Nyanti, Christian Kofa, Amos Kofa, and Eric Susay, are accused by the Government of Liberia of allegedly being involved in a fire that broke out around 6:20 a.m. on December 18, 2024, at the Capitol Building, which severely damaged the country’s legislative headquarters. Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice is scheduled to deliver its final ruling on a motion to suppress evidence in this high-profile case, involving more than a dozen defendants accused of multiple violent offenses, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
