Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the Clar Hope Foundation, an organization connected to former First Lady Clar Marie Weah, to produce documents requested by the government’s Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), setting up a significant legal battle at Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice.
The Foundation’s legal team filed a Motion to Quash a Writ of Subpoena Duces Tecum, but the ruling, which was handed down on Tuesday, February 24, denied it. It also requires that the sought data be turned in by Monday, March 2, 2026, at the latest, so that investigators can see them.
After the ruling, attorneys for the Foundation, headed by Cllr. M. Wilkins Wright promptly declared an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, laying the groundwork for what may turn out to be a critical constitutional test concerning the extent of prosecutorial power and the bounds of forced disclosure in asset recovery actions.
In rejecting the motion, Judge Willie ruled that the prosecution had satisfied the legal requirements necessary to force the disclosure of the documents requested by AREPT, which is reviewing assets and money purportedly connected to public resources during the previous administration.
Following allegations by investigators that some of the assets under investigation might be connected to government-allocated cash, the Clar Hope Foundation became a subject of attention. Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, the head of AREPT, characterized the court’s decision as being based on established precedent and the law in a statement following the decision.
Cllr. Martin informed reporters that the judge determined it was fair to allow the prosecution’s motion to force the Clar Hope Foundation to deliver the sought papers based on the reasons put out and the relevant law mentioned. Cllr. Martin emphasized that the decision should be viewed as a component of a larger national accountability initiative rather than as a personal triumph.
The Clar Hope Foundation politely disagrees with the court’s decision and has directed its attorneys to file an appeal, according to a statement released soon after the ruling. The foundation said there is nothing to conceal in this appeal. The statement said that it is about making sure that the Liberian Constitution is upheld and that the government’s authority is used in a just and proper manner.
The Foundation stressed that First Ladies perform social and humanitarian activities all around the world and that the Clar Hope Foundation was founded to empower children and families, assist vulnerable communities, and advance national development.
In compliance with the law and in good faith, the Foundation has acted. The release said it has nothing to hide. It maintained that suspicion or an assumption of misappropriation of public funds should not be automatically raised by the sheer existence of a charitable foundation linked to a public figure. Service to the nation should not be interpreted as misconduct, the statement went on.
“The Foundation expressed confidence that the judiciary will carefully consider the constitutional issues raised on appeal and stated that it stands ready to comply with any lawful process carried out in full accordance with the Constitution.”
Martin affirmed that every case, including those involving foreign nationals, will be pursued to its logical end. AREPT presently has over 40 more cases on its docket involving former government officials who are allegedly connected to the plundering of public resources.
