AREPT Clarifies Leaked Letter Addressed to Madam Bundoo.
Monrovia, Liberia – Simpson Consultancy, LLC has resisted a summons from the Assets Recovery & Property Task Force (AREPT), demanding that the issue be brought before a court of law in a startling rebuttal to the government’s anti-corruption initiatives.
The firm, which is headed by well-known lawyer Cllr. Abraham Wade Simpson, is defending two well-known people, Madam Nora Finda Bundoo and Mr. Francis Tuain Blamo, who were called in for interrogation on April 17 in relation to purportedly damning information that the task force had discovered.
However, Simpson clarified in a formal response to Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin that his clients would not attend what the firm described as an investigative conference, stating that a courtroom, not the Task Force’s offices, is the appropriate setting for discussing such claims.
Due process requires that it be presented to a court with appropriate jurisdiction if Assets Recovery & Property Task Force believes it has solid proof of misconduct, let them present it before the court Simpson stated in the letter dated April 16, 2025. “As long as they stay within the law, our clients are prepared to defend themselves.”
The action calls into doubt the scope and jurisdiction of the recently established Task Force, which has been stepping up its investigations into claims of fraudulent money and misuse of public assets. Simpson’s reaction anticipates what might turn out to be a more extensive court dispute on how to strike a balance between vigorous asset recovery initiatives and constitutional safeguards.
Simpson said that summoning his clients without official accusations or court processes violates their right to due process and a fair trial, citing Article 21 of the Liberian Constitution and sections of the Criminal Procedure Law.
“This isn’t an effort to interfere with the investigation. Instead, it is to make sure that expediency does not cause constitutional protections to be disregarded,” Simpson explained.
He further stated that Madam Bundoo and Mr. Blamo are prepared to respond to any legal accusations made against them in a court of law, even if they would not be appearing before the Task Force as asked.
In a letter dated April 14, 2025, to Madan Bondoo, the AREPT said it was investigating allegations of an alleged conflict of interest, theft of property, misapplication of public funds, economic sabortage, and money laundering, allegedly committed by Anita Group of Companies, its subsidiary Gracious Ride and its corporate officers.
AREPT noted in the letter to Madan Bondoo that, details of the allegations and records in its possession reveal that while serving in position as chief of protocol at the Executive Mansion, Republic of Liberia, Madan Bondoo affixed her signature and identity to corporate documents of Anita Group of Companies/Gracious Ride, which is under investigation for the alleged commission of the crimes of, theft of property, misapplication of public fund, economic sabotage, and money laundering.
According letter, allegations further reveal that this corporate entity of which Madan Bondoo served as a corporate officer used these unlawful means to have acquired several suspicious asserts (Suzuki vehicles) with transport service named “Gracious Ride.”
On April 16, AREPT clarify the leaked letter to Madan Bondoo noting that, “AREPT confirms the authenticity of a letter recently circulated in the media, addressed to Madam Nora Finda Bundoo, former Chief of Protocol to ex-President George Manneh Weah. This official correspondence was issued in accordance with our mandate under Executive Order No. 145, which empowers AREPT to investigate, trace, and recover stolen and suspicious public assets on behalf of the Liberian people.
The premature and unauthorized release of this letter, which was visibly stamped and officially dispatched, represents a deliberate attempt to sway public opinion and create a false narrative of targeted persecution. We have a strong reason to believe that this document was leaked by the recipient or someone from her inner circle, as the original version bears distinct features unique to our secured communications.
It is important to underscore that Madam Bundoo is not the only individual currently under investigation. As recently disclosed by the Chairman of AREPT, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, the Taskforce is nearing the conclusion of 17 major cases, while investigations into an additional nine cases have commenced bringing the total number of active cases to 26. These cases span multiple sectors and involve various current and former government officials suspected of misappropriating public funds and assets.
We would also like to clarify that an invitation from AREPT investigators does not imply guilt. This process is strictly intended to afford due process to persons of interest in our investigations. If exonerated through the process, AREPT has no authority to pursue further action against such individuals.
To date, more than 15 current and former government officials have appeared before AREPT investigators in relation to ongoing inquiries without a single incident of information leakage. We therefore urge those invited to cooperate professionally and to uphold the confidentiality of all official communications.
We further request the public and media institutions to approach such matters responsibly. Transparency remains a cornerstone of our operations, but the integrity of ongoing investigations must be protected to ensure due process and meaningful accountability.
AREPT reaffirms its commitment to the Liberian people, especially in a context where corruption has significantly contributed to poverty despite Liberia’s rich endowment of natural resources. We remain focused on retrieving stolen assets and restoring public trust in governance.
