Monrovia-Criminal Court “C” has ordered the immediate arrest of former Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo, after setting aside her second criminal appearance bond, ruling that the bond is legally invalid.
The latest ruling comes after prosecutors from the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, AREPT, challenged the replacement bond filed by Bundoo’s legal team, arguing that it failed to comply with Liberia’s legal requirements governing criminal appearance bonds.
The second bond was filed after Judge Ousman F. Feika had earlier rejected Bundoo’s initial criminal appearance bond, finding that two of the proposed human sureties failed to meet the legal qualifications required to stand as sureties. The court subsequently ordered the defense to submit a legally sufficient replacement bond within 72 hours.
In response, Bundoo’s lawyers submitted a revised bond package that included a US$240,000 Property Valuation Bond secured by property in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, along with an Affidavit of Human Surety executed by three individuals who undertook responsibility for ensuring her appearance before the court.
However, following a legal review, AREPT maintained that the replacement bond remained legally deficient, contending that the property, supporting documentation, and sureties failed to satisfy statutory requirements.
Prosecution, therefore, requested that the court revoke the bond and order Bundoo’s re-arrest pending the filing of a valid criminal appearance bond.
Judge Feika has now agreed with the prosecution, setting aside the second bond and ordering Bundoo’s immediate arrest.
Bundoo continues to face prosecution as a principle defendant, by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, acting through the Ministry of Justice.
She has been charged with multiple offences, including Money Laundering, Theft of Property, Misuse of Public Money, Property or Records, Criminal Conspiracy, Forgery, and
Criminal Facilitation.
The government alleged that the offences were committed during her tenure in public service.
Bundoo has consistently denied wrongdoing and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.
