By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) has asked Criminal Court “C” to revoke the newly approved criminal appearance bond of Nora Finda Bundoo and order her immediate re-arrest, arguing that the bond remains legally deficient despite the court’s earlier directive requiring the defense to submit a legally compliant replacement.
The latest legal challenge follows Bundoo’s submission of a new criminal appearance bond on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice set aside her previous bond and instructed the defense to file a legally sufficient replacement within 72 hours.
Following the court’s approval of the revised bond package, prosecutors conducted what AREPT described as a comprehensive legal review before filing a formal exception, contending that the new bond still fails to satisfy the requirements of Liberian law.
According to the prosecution’s filing, the amount of the bond is grossly insufficient considering the seriousness of the charges and the substantial value of the public funds allegedly involved in the case. AREPT further argues that the property pledged as security does not meet the legal standards governing criminal appearance bonds and raises additional concerns regarding the legal sufficiency of the documentation submitted by the proposed sureties.
Based on those alleged deficiencies, the Task Force is asking the court to set aside the court-approved bond, order Bundoo’s re-arrest, and require the filing of a criminal appearance bond that fully complies with Liberian law before she is permitted to remain at liberty.
AREPT maintains that its exception is a lawful procedural remedy available under Liberian law and says the filing reflects its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of judicial proceedings while preserving public confidence in the administration of justice.
Court documents show that Bundoo’s revised bond package includes a US$240,000 Property Valuation Bond secured by developed land located in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. The surety asserts ownership of real property valued at US$240,000, which has been pledged to guarantee Bundoo’s appearance before the court throughout the proceedings until the case is concluded.
The revised filing also includes an Affidavit of Human Surety executed by three individuals who have undertaken legal responsibility for ensuring Bundoo’s appearance before Criminal Court “C,” or any other court to which the matter may subsequently be transferred.
According to the affidavit, each of the three sureties has agreed to produce Bundoo whenever she is summoned to answer the criminal charges pending against her.
The court records further indicate that the revised bond documents were sworn before a Justice of the Peace on July 6, 2026, and were subsequently approved by Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika on July 7, 2026.
Despite that approval, AREPT contends that the revised bond remains legally and factually defective and should not have been accepted in its current form.
Bundoo is being prosecuted by AREPT through the Ministry of Justice in connection with the Gracious Ride case. She faces multiple felony charges, including money laundering, theft of property, misuse of public money, misuse of public property or records, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and criminal facilitation.
The prosecution’s latest filing follows Judge Feika’s earlier decision rejecting Bundoo’s initial criminal appearance bond after determining that it failed to comply with applicable legal requirements. The court subsequently directed the defense to submit a legally sufficient replacement within the prescribed 72-hour period.
Although the revised bond has since been approved, AREPT argues that significant legal and factual deficiencies remain unresolved, making Bundoo’s continued release inconsistent with the requirements of Liberian law.
Criminal Court “C” is now expected to determine whether the prosecution’s objections warrant setting aside the approved bond and ordering Bundoo’s re-arrest pending the filing of a bond that satisfies all statutory requirements.
The Gracious Ride prosecution remains one of the major corruption cases currently before Criminal Court “C” as the Boakai administration, through AREPT and the Ministry of Justice, continues pursuing allegations involving the misuse of public resources. The charges against Bundoo remain pending, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
