Politician accused of setting fire in Liberia parliament on bail
A former spokesman for Liberia and three other members of the House were released after paying £325,000 ($440,000) in bonds.
Jonathan Fonati Koffa, Abu Kamara, Dixon Seboe and Jacob Debee were charged in December of burning the Capitol.
All four face several charges, including arson, criminal mischief, attempted murder and other alleged crimes.
The day after the protests were sparked in the capital Monrovia, a huge fire broke out in the parliament building. Police estimate damage to $8.6 million.
On Friday, Liberian police said there was a “credible link” to show that Kofa was “strategically involved” in the incident. Koffa had previously denied any connection to the fire.
Congressmen Kamara, Seboe and Debee – are all members of the opposition Democratic Change Party (CDC) party – are related to the case.
They spent one night at the National Police Headquarters and were then transferred to the Monrovia Central Prison on Saturday, where they were held for two nights.
Representative Priscilla Cooper was also charged but was not detained for his poor health.
The court has imposed a travel ban on the defendant, awaiting the ruling of the case.
The fire on December 18 last year destroyed the entire joint room of the Legislature of West African States. No one was inside the building at that time.
The day before, tense protests were launched on the way to remove Koffa, with protesters including aides arrested by former President George Weah.
Several people, including Koffa and representative Frank Saah Foko, were asked by police.
Foko, a famous figure among the famous House figures, allegedly uploaded the video to Facebook, said: “If they want us to burn the room, we will burn.”
The House of Representatives in Liberia has been plagued by a long power struggle.
Koffa is at a stalemate with his political opponents, and in October, dozens of lawmakers voted for his improper each, accusing alleged of bad governance, corruption and conflict of interest.
Although he bid for less than two-thirds of the majority, 47 legislators unilaterally voted for the move formed their own spokesperson.
Last month, Koffa resigned from the position of speaker after months of political stalemate.
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