Presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘C’ Osuman F. Feikai has rejected the property surety bond filed in support of the criminal appearance bond of Nora Finda Bondoo, ordering her lawyers to submit a replacement bond within 72 hours.
The decision means the property offered as security for Bondoo’s bail no longer satisfies the court’s requirements.
Until a new and acceptable property bond is filed, the defense must comply with the court’s directive within the time allowed.
The rejected bond was supported by Cllr. Abraham W. Simpson and Fayiah Fallambu, who pledged separate parcels of land as sureties for Bondoo’s release.
Madam Bondo legal team filed a surity bond worth over US$435,560, matching the amount at the center of the prosecution’s case.
Although Judge Feikai did not explain the reasons for rejecting the bond in open court, property surety bonds may be disqualified if there are concerns about ownership, title documents, property valuation, tax compliance, or other legal requirements governing the property offered as security.
Bondoo is facing charges of money laundering, theft of property, misuse of public money, property and records, criminal conspiracy, and forgery.
The case was filed by the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) through its Chairman, Cllr. Edwin K. Martin, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.
The ruling does not address the merits of the criminal case against Bondoo. Instead, it is limited to the validity of the property bond filed on her behalf.
Under Liberian law, defendants granted bail through a criminal appearance bond must provide sureties and property that meet the court’s legal standards. Where those requirements are not met, the court may reject the bond and order that a new one be filed.
The defense is expected to comply with the court’s order by filing a replacement property surety bond within the next 72 hours as proceedings continue before Criminal Court ‘C.’
