By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA — The Criminal Court “C” in Monrovia on Thursday intensified scrutiny into a US$400,000 property bond submitted in support of former Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo, as her surety took the witness stand in an ongoing corruption-related proceeding.
Cllr. Abraham W. Simpson, one of Bundoo’s sureties, testified that the property offered as security is located in Gaye Town along Old Road in Monrovia and is valued at approximately US$400,000. He further told the court that all applicable property taxes had been paid to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), presenting the asset as legally compliant for bond purposes.
However, during cross-examination by defense counsel Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright, questions arose regarding the availability of original property documents and the authenticity of supporting records. In response, the surety informed the court that the original deed and related documents were not present in court, stating that they were kept at his residence.
The disclosure prompted immediate legal contention, with the defense requesting additional time to produce the original documents for verification. Prosecutor Cllr. Edwin K. Martin objected, insisting that the court must strictly enforce evidentiary standards by requiring the submission of original property documents, including corroborating records from the Liberia Revenue Authority, to validate the bond’s legitimacy.
After brief arguments from both sides, the court granted a recess and ordered a one-hour continuance to allow the surety to retrieve and present the original documents for inspection.
The development highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny applied to bond verification in high-profile corruption cases, where courts are placing greater emphasis on ownership authenticity, valuation accuracy, and documentary compliance before approving release conditions.
Speaking to journalists following the proceedings, Executive Chairperson of the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, Cllr. Edward Klah Martin, described the hearing as part of an ongoing legal process aimed at testing the strength and validity of the bond presented by the defense.
He noted that the task force objected to photocopied documents submitted during the hearing, arguing that only original records can establish proper legal credibility. According to him, the court was compelled to temporarily suspend proceedings to allow the surety to produce the required documentation.
Cllr. Martin further indicated that the bond review process is still ongoing, adding that the case has been reassigned for continuation on Monday, when additional sureties are expected to testify and undergo cross-examination in line with legal procedure.
He expressed confidence in the prosecution’s case, stating that all arguments and evidence presented by both sides will be considered before a final ruling on the justification of the bond.
