The Attorney-General has announced plans to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision acquitting former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Attionu Tamakloe, of all criminal charges brought against her.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Office said it had directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to immediately file a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, together with an application for a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment pending the final determination of the case.
The move follows the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the conviction of Ms. Tamakloe, who had earlier been tried and convicted in absentia by the High Court (Financial Division 2).
She had been found guilty on 78 counts, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, conspiracy to cause financial loss to the state, causing financial loss to the state, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations to the government, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
The High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, sitting as an additional High Court judge, sentenced Ms. Tamakloe to 10 years’ imprisonment following her conviction.
According to the Attorney-General, the Republic had opposed Ms. Tamakloe’s appeal before the Court of Appeal, arguing in written submissions that it lacked merit and should be dismissed.
However, following the appellate court’s ruling in her favour, the Attorney-General said it had resolved to escalate the matter to the country’s highest court.
“The Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, together with an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal,” the statement said.
The Attorney-General further stated that the government remained committed to due process and expressed confidence that its appeal before the Supreme Court would succeed.
The statement did not disclose the grounds on which the Court of Appeal acquitted Ms. Tamakloe, nor did it indicate when the Supreme Court would hear the intended appeal.
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