Monrovia, Liberia – Following the publication of an official medical report from ELWA Hospital that refutes allegations that he doused claimed victim Momoh David in boiling oil, the case against Chinese businessman Michael Shio has taken a significant turn. Concerns over a potential planned smear campaign involving Chinese businessman Gao Feng, commonly known as Barry or “The Real Minister,” and Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director General Eugene Fahngon are raised in the investigation.
Emerging reports suggest that Fahngon was allegedly paid $500,000 by Gao Feng to manufacture allegations against Shio, using state-owned media to sway public sentiment. Sources indicate that $300,000 of this sum was allegedly used to influence members of the House of Representatives, pushing for Shio’s deportation while bypassing due process while the matter pending for determination at Criminal Court A.
The allegations against Shio come amid a long-standing business rivalry between him and Gao Feng. In 2024, Gao Feng was accused of illicit mining in Gbarpolu County, encroaching on an exploration license held by NEO Global Minerals and Mines Inc., a company linked to Shio. As a result, Liberia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) fined Gao Feng over US$18 million on July 10, 2025. A US$300,000 settlement was later approved by the Civil Law Court of Montserrado County on December 11, 2024.
In a July 25, 2024, Facebook post, Fahngon publicly hinted at a campaign against Shio, writing:“THE REAL STORY OF ILLICIT MINING WILL BE TOLD ON SUNDAY WITH REAL FACTS. GET YOUR DATA READY FOR FACTS VS FICTION…” This further proves the longstanding conflict between Eugene Fahngon and Michael Shio.
The newly released medical report from ELWA Hospital fundamentally undermines the allegations against Michael Shio, and completely contradicting Eugene Fahgon and Momoh David statement. exposing glaring inconsistencies in the accusations. The emerging evidence points to a potential conspiracy orchestrated by Eugene Fahgon and Gao Feng to manipulate the legal system and public opinion against Shio. As the legal process unfolds, it is crucial to ensure that justice is based on facts rather than manufactured narratives.
On February 19, 2025, the Monrovia City Court received the official medical report from ELWA Hospital after issuing a writ of subpoena duces tecum. The report, signed by Dr. Juvenal Musavuli Maghuta, Consultant Surgeon, contradicts earlier allegations that David was tortured with hot oil by Shio on January 13, 2025.
- David was admitted to ELWA Hospital on January 17, 2025, at 11:41 PM four days after the alleged attack.
- Medical assessment determined that the injuries were caused by fire and not hot oil.
- The burns occurred approximately 24 hours before David’s hospital admission, meaning he was injured around January 16 and not January 13, when the alleged attack by Shio was said to have occurred.
These findings directly contradict the narrative promoted by Eugene Fahgon and LBS, raising concerns about misinformation and potential manipulation of the legal system.
According to a police statement given by Joyce Teta Teage, a family member of David, the burn injuries occurred on January 17, 2025 not January 13, 2025, as previously alleged. This contradicts claims that the injuries were inflicted at Michael Shio’s residence. Additionally, the ELWA Hospital report does not indicate a dog bite, as David had alleged.
Momoh David originally alleged:
- “Macus tied my hands and feet and used pepper spray on me until I became unconscious.”
- “He then took me to the bathroom and began pouring hot oil on my body, resulting in burns all over.”
- “Macus also called his dog on me, which bit both of my feet.”
However, the contradictions in his statements raise serious doubts:
- How could David accurately describe events that occurred after he claims to have lost consciousness?
- How could Michael Shio have taken David to the bathroom if David’s hands and feet were allegedly tied?
Despite these inconsistencies, Eugene Fahgon and state-owned LBS aggressively pushed the story that Shio tortured David. In a February 12, 2025, Facebook Live broadcast, Fahgon was seen leading David into making misleading statements. Fahgon repeatedly suggested that David had been hospitalized since January 13, despite the ELWA Hospital records proving otherwise. Thereafter, Fahgon repeatedly suggested that David had been detained at Shio’s compound for three days. These two contradictory statements mock the intelligence of Liberians and further indict Fahgon as the one who fabricated the Momoh David torture case.
- January 10, 2025 – Caught stealing wires from a Lone Star Tower; beaten by a mob. Incident recorded at Zone 3 Police Station.
- January 11, 2025 – Assaulted again after being caught stealing near Sando Cooper’s residence in Congo Town.
- January 12, 2025 – Tortured by a mob after another theft attempt, brought to Zone 3 Police Station but escaped en route to medical treatment.
- January 13, 2025 – Caught stealing a solar panel at Michael Shio’s construction site opposite RC Lawson School.
These repeated incidents suggest that David was involved in criminal activities and frequently suffered mob justice attacks making it highly plausible that his burns resulted from a separate fire-related incident, rather than an attack by Shio.
