Published: July 6, 2026
MONROVIA — After years of anti-corruption campaigns that often ended with investigations, public outrage and few convictions, Liberia’s Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) is beginning to build confidence that the country’s latest anti-graft effort could deliver more lasting legal results.
Though still in its early stages, the specialized institution has secured a series of favorable court rulings that legal observers say demonstrate a stronger prosecutorial strategy and a determination to pursue both accountability and the recovery of public assets allegedly lost to corruption.
Confident in the institution’s direction, AREPT Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin insists the task force is fully equipped for the legal battles ahead.
“AREPT is sufficient. AREPT is strong. AREPT is legally prepared… We will win out,” Martin declared.
The task force’s latest legal victories involve former government officials Finda Bundoo and Mawine Diggs.
While neither ruling addressed the defendants’ criminal liability, both represented important procedural victories for prosecutors.
In Bundoo’s case, Criminal Court “C” ruled that the proposed sureties submitted on her behalf failed to satisfy the legal requirements necessary for approval.
Meanwhile, in Diggs’ case, the court denied an application seeking permission for him to travel overseas after independent medical experts determined that treatment abroad was not medically necessary.
Although procedural in nature, the rulings underscore AREPT’s ability to successfully defend its cases during the preliminary stages of litigation, strengthening prosecutors’ position before trials reach the evidentiary phase.
Unlike many previous anti-corruption initiatives, AREPT combines criminal prosecution with the recovery of public assets allegedly obtained through corrupt practices.
Its mandate extends beyond securing convictions to tracing, freezing and recovering public resources while collaborating with domestic and international partners to identify assets concealed across jurisdictions.
That distinction is significant, as many countries have succeeded in prosecuting corrupt officials but recovered only a small portion of stolen public wealth because illicit assets are often hidden through complex international financial networks requiring years of legal proceedings.
Governance experts argue that institutions such as AREPT produce their greatest impact not only through recovered assets but by changing the behavior of public officials.
The prospect of corruption being detected, investigated and prosecuted increases the risks associated with misconduct and can foster a culture of greater accountability across public institutions.
Such deterrence, analysts say, strengthens governance even before every misappropriated dollar is recovered.
The Boakai administration has repeatedly pledged that corruption will receive no political protection, placing significant responsibility on AREPT to convert that commitment into measurable legal outcomes.
While the task force’s recent courtroom successes suggest it has made a promising start, its long-term credibility will ultimately depend on whether it can secure final convictions and recover stolen public assets.
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