With the rejection of Madam Finda Bondoo’s Criminal Appearance Bond, legal experts believe that she may go to jail if she cannot fulfill her obligation to the court within 72 hours. Over the weekend, Criminal Court “C” rejected the criminal appearance surety bond submitted by former Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bondoo, concluding that the bond did not meet the legal standards required for approval.
In a ruling delivered by Presiding Judge Ousman F. Feika, the court ordered Bondoo to file a valid and sufficient criminal appearance bond within 72 hours.
The judge warned that failure to comply with the order would subject her to the consequences prescribed by law. The decision follows days of arguments over the adequacy of the sureties and the properties offered as security for Bondoo’s release.
State prosecutors challenged both the credibility of the sureties and the legal sufficiency of the pledged properties, contending that they failed to satisfy the requirements governing criminal appearance bonds.
Defense lawyers, however, maintained that the bond complied with all applicable statutory provisions and urged the court to approve the filing. The court’s detailed written ruling, including the legal basis for its decision and any response from the defense, is expected to provide further clarity on the matter.
Prior to the court’s latest ruling, Criminal Court “C” conducted several hearings to determine the sufficiency of the criminal appearance bond filed by former Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol Nora Finda Bondoo.
During the proceedings, one of her sureties, Cllr. Abraham W. Simpson, testified that he had pledged his Gaye Town property, valued at more than US$230,000, as security for the bond and submitted supporting ownership and tax documents.
Prosecutors, however, challenged both the adequacy of the pledged property and Simpson’s dual role as Bondoo’s defense lawyer and surety, raising questions about the bond’s legal and ethical compliance.
The hearings formed the basis for the court’s subsequent decision to reject the bond as insufficient. The former Chief of Protocol is facing multiple criminal charges, including Theft of Property, Economic Sabotage, Criminal Facilitation and Criminal Conspiracy stemming from allegations of the misappropriation of public funds during her as Executive Mansion Chief of Protocol.
Madam Bondoo has denied all allegations, and the case remains before Judge Feika.
