Sedina Attionu Tamakloe
THE ATTORNEY General’s Office has filed an application before an Accra High Court to summon two persons who stood as sureties for former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Attionu Tamakloe, who is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.
The two officials who stood surety for the accused person have been identified as former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Alex Mould and one Gavivina Tamakloe, formerly with National Theatre.
The Attorney General’s (AG) Department has also filed an application seeking leave to hold the trial of the John Mahama appointee in her absence.
The applications were filed by the prosecution as a result of the failure of the former MASLOC boss to return from the United States of America for the continuation of the trial after the court had granted her permission to travel.
Ms. Tamakloe and a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, are standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.
They are facing 78 counts of charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, and unauthorised commitment, among others.
Medical Check-up
Last year, the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe had granted Ms. Attionu leave to travel to the US and was expected to return to court on October 6, 2021, but failed to do so and the judge issued a warrant for her arrest and subsequently adjourned the matter to November 16, 2021.
The accused person still failed to return to the country and the case was once again adjourned to January 10, 2021, with the hope that she would have returned by that date.
She has still not returned to the country, thereby holding the trial in abeyance.
Applications
Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney, appearing before the trial court yesterday, said the prosecution has filed two applications in respect of Ms. Tamakloe’s continuous absence from the trial.
She said the first application is for forfeiture of recognisance of sureties while the second application is for her to be tried in absentia.
As a result, former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Alex Mould and one GavivinaTamakloe, formerly with National Theatre who stood as sureties for the accused are to be served with forfeiture processes to come and explain to court why they should not be made to pay the GH¢5m bail sum to the state.
The court has adjourned the case to March 10, 2022, for the sureties to be served with the processes and appear in court.
Trial
Ms. Attionu and Mr. Axim have been dragged to court for allegedly stealing, causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢93 million, among other charges.
Together, the two are facing 78 counts of charges including conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment, resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
The two accused persons allegedly stole a total amount of GH¢3,198,280 while at MASLOC and willfully caused a GH¢1,973,780 financial loss to the state.
Again, Ms. Attionu and her accomplice while in charge of MASLOC allegedly made unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations for the government to the tune of GH¢61,735,832.50.
The charges against the two also include a GH¢22,158,118.85 loss to public property and improper payment of GH¢273,743.66 as well as money laundering of GH¢3,704,380 while in charge.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak