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| Liberia Capitol fire: Ex-speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa charged with arson | Liberia Capitol fire: Ex-speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa charged with arson |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Thick smoke as huge fire breaks out at Liberia's Capitol building | Thick smoke as huge fire breaks out at Liberia's Capitol building |
| Liberia's former speaker of parliament has been charged with arson over a fire which destroyed the nation's House of Representatives, local police have said. | |
| The huge blaze broke out last December, a day after plans to remove Jonathan Fonati Koffa from his role as speaker sparked protests in the capital, Monrovia. | The huge blaze broke out last December, a day after plans to remove Jonathan Fonati Koffa from his role as speaker sparked protests in the capital, Monrovia. |
| Koffa had been locked in a stand-off with his political opponents, with dozens of lawmakers voting for his impeachment in October over accusations of poor governance, corruption and conflicts of interest. | Koffa had been locked in a stand-off with his political opponents, with dozens of lawmakers voting for his impeachment in October over accusations of poor governance, corruption and conflicts of interest. |
| Koffa has previously denied any connection to the fire breaking out. | Koffa has previously denied any connection to the fire breaking out. |
| Police said on Friday that there were "credible links" to suggest Koffa was "strategically involved" in the incident. Five other lawmakers have also been detained in connection to the case. | |
| Police chief Gregory Colman said Koffa had been charged with a string of offences including arson, criminal mischief, endangering other people, and attempted murder. | Police chief Gregory Colman said Koffa had been charged with a string of offences including arson, criminal mischief, endangering other people, and attempted murder. |
| Colman said Koffa had used his office and staff "to co-ordinate sabotage efforts from as early as November 2023", according to news agency AFP. | Colman said Koffa had used his office and staff "to co-ordinate sabotage efforts from as early as November 2023", according to news agency AFP. |
| Koffa and several other lawmakers were summoned to the Liberian National Police headquarters on Friday as "persons of interest" in the case, local media reports. | Koffa and several other lawmakers were summoned to the Liberian National Police headquarters on Friday as "persons of interest" in the case, local media reports. |
| The former speaker and three sitting members of the House of Representatives were then remanded to Monrovia Central Prison on Saturday, newspaper FrontPage Africa reported. | The former speaker and three sitting members of the House of Representatives were then remanded to Monrovia Central Prison on Saturday, newspaper FrontPage Africa reported. |
| The blaze on 18 December 2024 destroyed the entire joint chambers of the West African nation's legislature. No one was inside the building at the time. | The blaze on 18 December 2024 destroyed the entire joint chambers of the West African nation's legislature. No one was inside the building at the time. |
| The day before had seen tense protests over the plans to remove Koffa, with demonstrators including an aide to former President George Weah arrested. | The day before had seen tense protests over the plans to remove Koffa, with demonstrators including an aide to former President George Weah arrested. |
| Several individuals, including Koffa and Representative Frank Saah Foko, were brought in for questioning by police. | Several individuals, including Koffa and Representative Frank Saah Foko, were brought in for questioning by police. |
| Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, allegedly uploaded a video to Facebook in which he said: "If they want us to burn the chambers, we will burn it." | Foko, a prominent figure in the House of Representatives, allegedly uploaded a video to Facebook in which he said: "If they want us to burn the chambers, we will burn it." |
| A team of independent US investigators brought in to assist the investigation concluded that the fire was set deliberately. | A team of independent US investigators brought in to assist the investigation concluded that the fire was set deliberately. |
| Liberia's House of Representatives has been beset by a long-running power struggle. | Liberia's House of Representatives has been beset by a long-running power struggle. |
| Although the bid to impeach Koffa fell short of the two-thirds majority required, the group of 47 lawmakers who had voted for the move unilaterally appointed their own speaker. | Although the bid to impeach Koffa fell short of the two-thirds majority required, the group of 47 lawmakers who had voted for the move unilaterally appointed their own speaker. |
| Last month, Koffa resigned as speaker after months of political deadlock. | Last month, Koffa resigned as speaker after months of political deadlock. |