The Financial and Economic Division ‘2’ of the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, says the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Attionu Tamakloe, would be tried in absentia.
She said: “I will adjourn the application for trial in absentia to December 22, hoping that she will be back by then. If she doesn’t come, then I will consider the application for trial in absentia.”
This follows failure on the part of the embattled former MASLOC boss to appear before the court for almost a year now.
As a result, the court has ordered Alex Kofi Mould, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC), Gavivina Tamakloe, and two others who stood sureties for Sedinam to produce her by the stated date, else it would be compelled to execute the GH¢5 million bail condition.
“I have drawn the conclusion that A1 (Sedina) has absconded, as she has not showed up at the time she was supposed to. But the authorities have also made it clear that if this happens you should give the sureties time to produce the accused person.
For this reason, I have given the sureties on or before 22 December, 2022, to produce the accused person. A failure to produce her will result in a forfeiture of the bond,” the Justice said.
The court explained that Sedina had breached the terms of her bond and a liability accrues on the sureties, therefore, forfeiture of the bail bond becomes effective the moment the accused person jumps bail, and the surety is unable to produce him or her.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mould’s lawyers argued that the state should take action to extradite the accused to come down and face trial, adding that he was informed that the accused was unwell and was seeking medical assistance in the United States.
Mr. Gavivina’s lawyers also argued that their client was not informed about the application to release Sedina’s passport, therefore, don’t have any idea of her whereabouts and cannot to be held liable.
He told the court: “Besides the state did not oppose the application so I cannot be held responsible for her absence. The state has all the apparatuses to ensure accused attends court.”
Samuel Osei Sarpong, holding brief for Sedina’s counsel, Agbesi Dzakpasu, told the court that the accused’s return date had changed, hence, would not be able to come down as planned.
The Principal State Attorney, Stella Ohene Appiah, told the court that Sedina failed to return for the trial after being given leave to travel, and that could simply mean that she had absconded.
Background
Sedina Attionu is on trial together with Daniel Axim, a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, on 78 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, stealing, and contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.
The two have denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution has accused Mrs. Attionu of engaging in some illegalities leading to alleged stealing and financial loss.
For instance, it has accused Mrs. Attionu of embezzling GH¢500,000 that was paid by a company which benefitted from MASLOC support in 2014.
It is also the case of the prosecution that in 2013 following a fire disaster at the Kantamanto Market, then President John Mahama directed MASLOC to provide assistance of GH¢1.46 million to victims of the disaster, but Mrs. Attionu embezzled part of the money.
