By Vaye Abel Lepolu
MONROVIA, Liberia—The ongoing legal proceedings involving Madam Nora Finda Bundoo, the former Chief of Protocol to ex-President George Weah, and several other defendants continued Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with the court hearing arguments regarding a criminal appearance bond filed by the American Casualty and Insurance Company Corporation (ACCICO).
The proceedings form part of a case brought by the Republic of Liberia, through the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) and the Ministry of Justice, involving allegations including money laundering, theft of property, misuse of public money or records, criminal conspiracy, forgery and criminal facilitation.
ACCICO General Manager Alieu V. Sheriff appeared before the court to justify the company’s surety for Bundoo. Sheriff told the court that he has worked with ACCICO for 13 years and currently serves as its General Manager, overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations.
During direct examination, Sheriff addressed several objections raised by the prosecution concerning the bond. He testified that an incorrect business registration certificate had initially been attached to the bond but said the company had provided what he described as the correct registration certificate to its legal team.
The document was subsequently identified by Sheriff as ACCICO’s business registration certificate and marked by the court as Exhibit M/1, although the prosecution objected because the document was a photocopy rather than the original. The court later confirmed the marking.
Sheriff also disputed the prosecution’s contention that ACCICO’s bond should have been accompanied by a board resolution. He argued that issuing bonds is part of the routine, day-to-day operations of an insurance company and therefore does not require a board resolution for every bond issued.
The prosecution further questioned ACCICO’s financial capacity, citing a Clerk’s Certificate from Criminal Court “A” which, according to the proceedings, indicates that ACCICO had issued criminal appearance bonds with an accumulated value of approximately US$6.23 million.
In response, Sheriff maintained that ACCICO has operated in Liberia for more than 30 years and that some previously issued bonds may have expired. He insisted that the company’s current financial position is sufficient to cover the bond under consideration.
Asked whether ACCICO’s current bank balance could cover the approximately US$6 million bond, Sheriff answered that the company’s financial position was sufficient and that it could still accommodate other bonds.
The witness was also questioned about whether ACCICO has outstanding loans, attachments, judgments or other encumbrances against the company. Sheriff repeatedly answered that he did not know. The prosecution later questioned him again on the same issue, and he maintained his response.
Another line of questioning concerned ACCICO’s audited financial statements. Sheriff explained that ACCICO is regulated by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and said insurance companies are required to submit audited financial statements to the CBL before obtaining the necessary certification.
According to Sheriff, the CBL certification demonstrated ACCICO’s solvency and qualified the company to issue the bond.
Under cross-examination, the prosecution also challenged the validity and financial implications of ACCICO’s previous bonds. Sheriff maintained that any relevant bonds could be presented for examination and insisted that ACCICO had the capacity to satisfy the bond filed in the case.
At the conclusion of the witness’s testimony, the prosecution announced that it rested with the witness, subject to the usual reservation. The court then discharged the Sheriff with thanks.
The hearing was subsequently suspended, with the court ordering that proceedings on the Motion to Justify Surety continue Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
The parties were present through their respective legal counsel, and the court minutes were ordered to constitute notice of assignment. The case involves Bundoo and several other defendants named by the Republic of Liberia through AREPT and the Ministry of Justice. The allegations remain matters before the court, and the proceedings are ongoing.
