MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Criminal Court “C” has given former Presidential Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo 30 days to increase the value of her latest criminal appearance bond after finding that a portion filed by one of her insurance sureties was insufficient.
The ruling, issued on September 1, 2026, by Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika, followed the prosecution’s challenge to the third set of bonds submitted on Bundoo’s behalf.
Bundoo and several co-defendants were indicted by a Montserrado County grand jury on November 5, 2025, on allegations including money laundering, theft of property, misuse of public property or records, criminal conspiracy, forgery and criminal facilitation.
The case was brought by the Republic of Liberia through the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force, chaired by Cllr. Edwin K. Martin, and the Ministry of Justice.
The defendants have not been convicted and remain presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Third bond attempt
The court said it had conducted two previous surety-justification hearings, making the latest proceeding Bundoo’s third attempt to satisfy the bond requirements.
On July 3, the court cancelled earlier surety bonds after determining that the sureties were insufficient and were not legally qualified to file them. Bundoo was then given 72 hours to submit a new criminal appearance bond.
Two individuals, Kai Garlor Farley and John Moses Gbetee, subsequently presented property-valuation bonds. The prosecution challenged both filings.
On July 21, Judge Feika ruled on the objections and established Bundoo’s bond threshold at US$8 million.
Following that ruling, Accident and Casualty Insurance Company, known as ACICO, and American Underwriters Group International Insurance Company, referred to in the ruling as AUG, submitted separate criminal appearance bonds for Bundoo. Both companies are reportedly licensed by the Central Bank of Liberia to issue such bonds.
The prosecution objected again, arguing that the combined value of the two insurance bonds was “grossly insufficient” and lower than the amount connected to the indictment. It asked the court to cancel the bonds and require Bundoo to present adequate security consistent with Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law.
Bundoo’s lawyers countered that bail is intended to guarantee a defendant’s appearance in court and should not be fixed at an excessive amount beyond the accused person’s financial capacity.
AUG ordered to cover shortfall
After reviewing the filings, Judge Feika ruled that the bond submitted by AUG was insufficient because the company had already issued criminal appearance bonds in other courts against its available assets.
Instead of cancelling the entire bond arrangement, the judge ordered AUG to increase its bond by the outstanding amount needed to meet the court’s US$8 million requirement.
“The difference in the amount of the AUG bond be augmented within thirty (30) days as of the date of this ruling to satisfy the bond threshold set by this court,” the ruling states.
Once the difference is covered, the bond is to be approved in keeping with law.
The ruling does not state the current combined value of the ACICO and AUG bonds or the precise amount AUG must add to reach the US$8 million threshold.
Passport remains with court
Judge Feika also ordered the court to retain Bundoo’s passport and all other travel documents until the criminal case is concluded.
The decision addresses only whether her sureties can financially support the criminal appearance bond. It does not determine her guilt or innocence on the charges contained in the indictment.
