Criminal Court ‘A’ Judge Roosevelt Willie has handed down a ruling on a subpoena duces tecum filed by the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), ordering the Clar Hope Foundation to produce documents relevant to an ongoing investigation into the acquisition of a private foundation complex in Marshall, Margibi County.
The subpoena seeks financial, contractual, and material records that investigators believe are critical to determining the source of funds and the process through which the property was obtained. By granting the application, the court has compelled the foundation to make available documents that could clarify ownership, funding streams, and compliance with existing laws governing charitable organizations and property acquisition.
As a consequence of the ruling, Madam Weah is now required to provide proof, including financial and material evidence, explaining how the Marshall-based complex was acquired. Legal observers say the burden now rests on the foundation and its principal figures to demonstrate that the acquisition followed lawful procedures and was financed through legitimate means.
AREPT, a government-backed task force established to investigate and recover unlawfully acquired public assets, has intensified its scrutiny of properties and entities suspected of benefiting from questionable transactions. The task force maintains that the documents requested will help establish whether the property in question was lawfully acquired or whether it forms part of assets subject to recovery by the state.
The ruling by Judge Willie is being viewed as a significant step in reinforcing judicial oversight and accountability, particularly in cases involving high-profile individuals and institutions. It also underscores the court’s willingness to compel disclosure when investigators demonstrate that requested records are essential to an active probe.
The Clar Hope Foundation has not yet publicly responded to the court’s decision. Further proceedings are expected once the requested documents are submitted and reviewed by investigators, a process that could determine the next legal steps in the matter.
