Monrovia-Proceedings in the criminal case involving former Chief of Protocol to former President George Manneh Weah, Finda Bundoo, have been suspended after Criminal Court “C” Resident Judge Ousman Feika delivered a split ruling on issues surrounding her criminal appearance bond.
By: Willie Tokpah
In a decision that partly favored both the defense and the prosecution, Judge Feika disqualified the two sureties presented by Bundoo, finding them legally insufficient, and ordered that the property valuation bond be set aside.
The court further instructed Bundoo to file a new criminal appearance bond within 72 hours.
The defense immediately objected to that portion of the ruling, announced an appeal to the Supreme Court, and formally noted its exception.
The trial court subsequently suspended further proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.
In explaining his decision, Judge Feika said his ruling was based on legal premises.
He observed that although Liberia’s laws are not explicit on every aspect of the issue before the court, the legal profession requires lawyers to provide representation to their clients rather than assume roles that could make them witnesses in the same matter.
The judge also held that a person who is already serving as an indictee in a criminal case cannot lawfully act as a surety for another defendant.
According to the court, the purpose of a surety is to guarantee the defendant’s appearance before the court, a responsibility that may be compromised when the proposed surety is himself facing criminal charges.
However, the ruling was not entirely in favor of the prosecution.
Judge Feika also ruled in favor of the defense on certain aspects of the bond dispute, including the issue relating to the amount stated in the appearance bond.
Dissatisfied with that portion of the decision, prosecutors likewise announced an exception, signaling that both parties disagreed with different parts of the court’s ruling.
The split decision leaves neither side with a complete victory.
For Bundoo, the court’s ruling does not address the merits of the criminal allegations against her.
Instead, it is limited to questions surrounding the legal sufficiency of her appearance bond and the qualifications of the proposed sureties.
With the defense announcing an appeal before the Supreme Court, the proceedings before Criminal Court “C” remain on hold while Liberia’s highest court will now have to determine whether the trial judge correctly interpreted the law governing criminal appearance bonds and sureties.
Finda Bundoo, who served as Chief of Protocol during the administration of former President George Manneh Weah, is facing criminal prosecution in a case that has generated public interest because of her former position in government.
As with all criminal proceedings, Bundoo remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The latest development marks an important procedural stage in the case, as Bundoo lawyers look forward to the Supreme Court to guide the legal questions arising from Judge Feika’s partial ruling.
