Court Orders Finda Bundoo to Submit New Surety Bond in Criminal Proceedings vs AREPT

Monrovia, Liberia: Criminal Court 'C' has given a 72-hour ultimatum to former Presidential Protocol Chief, Finda Bundoo, to produce a new surety bond in the criminal charges brought against her by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT).

Friday's ruling handed down by presiding Judge Ousman Feika, followed the dismissal of the initial surety bond filed by Madam Bundoo and her legal team. Judge Feika stated that the bond failed to satisfy legal requirements.

The ruling follows several days of contentious hearings in which prosecutors challenged the credibility of the sureties and the properties pledged to guarantee Bondoo's release.

Madam Bundoo's legal team had presented a surety witness, Rev. Fayah Falanbo, who submitted land documents for properties located around the Fish Market area, New Era, and the LPRC Community to support Bundoo’s bond application.

However, prosecutors argued that the sureties and pledged properties were legally insufficient, questioning Falanbo's ownership, valuation, and documentation of the properties.

The Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce has earlier charged Bundoo with misuse of public funds, criminal facilitation, theft of property, money laundering and forgery in the tone of approximately US$6.7 million in her role under the previous government.

With the latest ruling, Nora Finda Bundoo and her team are under pressure to submit a bond that meets all legal requirements within the two-day ultimatum or risk contempt.

Meanwhile, following the official ruling of the Chairman of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce, Edwin Kla Martin said it underscores the Taskforce's genuine stance in the criminal charges brought against the former Chief of Protocol to Ex-President George Weah.