Paynesville, Liberia – November 7, 2025
The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) on Friday, November 7, 2025 announced the unsealing of two major indictments involving alleged money laundering, theft of public property, and criminal facilitation among other charges, signaling one of the most significant anti-corruption actions in recent years.
The indictments, unveiled during a press conference at AREPT’s headquarters in Paynesville, name former government officials and private business executives accused of diverting and concealing millions of dollars in public funds through fraudulent contracts and shell companies.
AREPT Chairman Cllr. Edward Kla Martin, addressing journalists, said the cases reflect Liberia’s growing resolve to hold accountable those who misuse public office for personal gain.
“What we share today is not just another update,” Cllr. Martin said. “It is a statement of Liberia’s determination to hold accountable anyone who abuses public trust no matter their position or connections.”
The “Anita Group of Companies/Gracious Ride” Indictment
The first case, popularly referred to as the “Anita Group of Companies/Gracious Ride” investigation, involves former Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bundoo, who served from 2018 to 2023, along with Pamela Anita Jallah, Francis B. Blamo, Saah F. Johnson Sr., and forty other defendants.
AREPT investigators found that between 2020 and 2023, Madam Bundoo and her associates used the Anita Group of Companies and Gracious Ride Incorporated to move and conceal over US$6.7 million and L$845 million in public funds.
The investigation also revealed extensive real estate and vehicle purchases inconsistent with Bundoo’s official income. Properties identified include holdings in Christopolis Community, Brewerville, Freetown Community, Marshall, Margibi County, and Rehab Community, Paynesville, valued at over hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Between 2022 and 2023, Bundoo’s company Gracious Ride Inc. also purchased 42 Suzuki vehicles from GBK Motors worth US$424,000.
A writ of arrest has been issued for Madam Bundoo, who is currently at large, while several of her co-defendants have been arrested and being processed for court trial.
The charges filed include Money Laundering, Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy, Forgery, Misuse of Public Funds, and violations of the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) and the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA).
“Within just three years in office, Madam Bundoo’s financial dealings expanded beyond explanation,” Cllr. Martin said. “The evidence revealed deliberate efforts to disguise the source of public funds through front companies and asset acquisitions.”
The MDMC/MOFA Indictment
The second indictment concerns a US$1.95 million renovation contract between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MDMC Express Incorporated, represented by John S. Youboty. The contract, signed in September 2023, was funded by a US$2 million grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intended to refurbish the Ministry’s headquarters in central Monrovia.
According to AREPT’s investigation, the company received full payment for the project, but only 56 percent of the work—valued at US$1,098,863.58—was completed. The remaining 44 percent, valued at US$851,136.13, was never done, and no certificate of completion was issued.
Investigators hired an independent Architectural Firm which appraiser’s found that the contract was not implement as was agreed.
Those indicted include Thelma Duncan Sawyer, former Deputy Minister for Administration, John S. Youboty, CEO of MDMC Express, Joseph C. Goodridge, Project Manager, and other MDMC representatives. They face charges of Theft of Property and Criminal Facilitation.
“Every dollar that is stolen is a resource denied to our people,” Chairman Martin told reporters. “That money could have built classrooms, provided medicine, improved roads, or paid civil servants. These crimes rob Liberian children of a better future.”
Commitment to Accountability and Due Process
Chairman Martin reaffirmed that all of AREPT’s investigations are conducted within the framework of Liberian law and in collaboration with national and international partners.
“AREPT’s work is not political — it is patriotic,” he said. “We follow the evidence wherever it leads. Our duty is to the people of Liberia and to the laws of this Republic.”
He added that these are the second and third major indictments unsealed by AREPT, part of a growing docket of more than 40 active investigations. In June 2025, the Taskforce secured the indictment of 15 government officials over the theft of rice donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a case now before the court.
AREPT said the latest actions underscore the government’s commitment to transparency and justice, as the Taskforce continues to trace and recover assets stolen from the Liberian people.
“Today’s indictments send a clear message,” Cllr. Martin concluded. “Those who misuse public resources will face the full weight of the law, and those who serve with honesty will be protected and respected.”
