By: Domingo Dargbeh
In a decisive move to combat corruption, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has announced significant indictments against several prominent individuals involved in high-profile financial crimes.
Cllr. Edward Kla Martin, Chairman of AREPT, addressing the press over the weekend, outlined details of two major investigations that have resulted in multiple indictments, including former Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo, and John S. Youboty, CEO of MDMC Express Incorporated.
The press conference, which took place at the AREPT headquarters, emphasized Liberia’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for misuse of public resources.
“What we share today is not just another update; it is a statement of Liberia’s resolve to hold accountable anyone who abuses public trust no matter their position or connections,” he noted.
Details of the investigations spanning several months, revealed troubling patterns of corruption involving the use of power and influence to divert public resources for personal gain.
He explained that the first case centers on the Anita Group of Companies and its associated entity, Gracious Ride, which has been implicated in money laundering and financial crimes.
In a related indictment, Youboty and former Deputy Minister for Administration Thelma Duncan Sawyer face charges of theft of property and criminal facilitation linked to a government renovation contract.
Martin stated that the inquiry into the Anita Group began in March 2024 after AREPT noticed suspicious transactions related to properties and vehicles owned by Gracious Ride.
He narrated that despite a legal challenge from the company that temporarily halted the investigation, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of AREPT in February 2025, allowing the Taskforce to resume its work.
He explained that the allegations Against Bundoo and Associates detailed the findings against Bundoo and her associates. Before her appointment as Chief of Protocol, Bundoo had no significant business holdings.
However, between 2020 and 2023, her financial activities surged, involving over US$6.7 million and L$845 million in various transactions. The investigation uncovered several high-value assets purchased during her time in office, including multiple real estate properties and a fleet of 42 Suzuki vehicles totaling approximately US$424,000.
The indictments against Bundoo, CEO of Anita Group Pamela Anita Jallah, General Manager Francis B. Blamo, and other associates include charges of Money Laundering, Economic Sabotage, Theft of Property, Misuse of Public Funds, and Criminal Conspiracy, among others.
Martin at the same time outlined the indictments against MDMC and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Case In the MDMC case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entered a contract for renovation work that was fully paid yet grossly incomplete.
An independent appraisal revealed that only 56.35% of the contracted work was done, leading to an indictment for theft of property against Youboty and Sawyer.
Cllr. Martin emphasized that the funds involved stemmed from a US$2.5 million donation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intended for essential government renovations and humanitarian aid.
A Call for Accountability The AREPT Chairman underscored the broader implications of these investigations, stating, “Every dollar that is stolen, every asset illegally taken, is a resource denied to our people.
Meanwhile, Cllr, Martin is however calling for the immediate disengagement of the government from all contracts with MDMC, which has been formally indicted.
Cllr. Martin reassured the public that the Taskforce’s work is non-political but rather a patriotic duty to uphold the laws of Liberia. “Justice is not instant; it is built step by step through lawful, careful work,” he stated, urging citizens to remain patient and supportive.
The indictments announced today mark a significant step in Liberia’s ongoing battle against corruption, with AREPT indicating that they are just the beginning of a broader effort involving over 40 additional cases currently under investigation.
As the nation watches closely, the message is clear: public officials will be held accountable, and the misuse of public resources will not be tolerated.