Government prosecutors have filed a formal request seeking the re-arrest of former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and several other lawmakers recently released from detention in connection with an ongoing arson investigation. According to the prosecution, the bond used to secure their temporary release is legally defective and should be set aside.
The lawmakers, who were charged earlier this month in relation to an alleged politically motivated arson attack, were freed on bond pending trial. However, government lawyers now contend that the bond filed by the defendants’ legal team fails to meet the statutory requirements set out under Liberian law.
In a motion submitted to the court, the prosecution described the bond as “null, void, and of no legal effect,” insisting it was improperly accepted by the court clerk. They are calling on the presiding judge to revoke the bond, invalidate the release, and order the lawmakers back into pre-trial detention until a valid and legally sufficient bond is posted.
“This is not merely a technicality,” said one government attorney familiar with the filing. “It’s about ensuring that the law is applied evenly to all citizens, whether private individuals or public officials.”
The defense team representing the lawmakers has not yet responded publicly to the motion. However, legal observers anticipate a heated courtroom debate over the bond’s validity in the coming days.
The court is currently reviewing the motion and is expected to issue a ruling soon. Until then, the status of the lawmakers remains uncertain as the legal battle over their detention continues.
