MONROVIA – Criminal Court “C” has reserved its ruling until Friday, July 3, 2026, on whether to uphold the criminal appearance bond of former Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo after prosecutors raised serious concerns about the credibility of one of her sureties and the properties pledged to secure her release.
The decision followed intense arguments during Monday’s hearing before Resident Judge Ousman F. Feika, where the defense presented its second and final surety in an effort to justify Bundoo’s bond in the ongoing corruption and economic crimes case.
The surety, Rev. Fayiah Fallambu, a civil servant and pastor of Wailing Wall Prayer Chapel International Church, testified that he had pledged three properties located behind the New Era Fish Market, at LPRC Junction, and in the Shoe Factory Community. He told the court that the properties are backed by valid title deeds and Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) tax clearance certificates.
However, prosecutors subjected the witness to rigorous cross examination, drawing attention to his own status as a co-defendant in the same corruption case. The prosecution questioned whether it was appropriate for an accused person to serve as a surety and whether the same properties had previously been used to secure criminal appearance bonds for other defendants.
Rev. Fallambu admitted that he had indeed served as a surety for other co-defendants but insisted that the bond submitted on behalf of Bundoo was separate and independently filed.
The prosecution further challenged the financial credibility of the pledged properties, questioning whether official valuation reports prepared by the Liberia Revenue Authority had been submitted to substantiate their value.
Although Rev. Fallambu maintained that the LRA had independently assessed the properties, he acknowledged that he could not confirm whether those assessment reports formed part of the documents before the court.
Following the testimony, the defense waived its third surety, formally rested its case, and submitted documentary evidence, including property deeds and tax clearance certificates, in support of the bond.
Judge Feika subsequently heard final arguments from both the defense and prosecution before reserving his ruling until July 3.
The forthcoming decision is expected to determine whether the sureties and the properties offered satisfy the legal requirements governing criminal appearance bonds under Liberian law.
The ruling could also have significant implications for the ongoing prosecution of the corruption and economic crimes case, particularly as the court continues to examine whether the bond package presented by the defense provides sufficient legal assurance that Bundoo will appear for all future proceedings.
The case remains under public scrutiny as anti corruption advocates and members of the public continue to follow developments involving former government officials accused of financial and economic crimes.
