Edem Agbana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the Keitu North constituency, has asserted that the state’s prosecution of the former CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, in her absence amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
The Financial and Economic Court 2 of the Accra High Court on Tuesday, April 16, convicted and sentenced Sedina Tamakloe to 10 years of imprisonment for causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GHS90 million.
Also, the Director of Operations, Daniel Axim, was handed a 5-year jail term.
Reacting to the ruling on TV3 New Day on Wednesday, April 17, Mr. Agbana maintained that the NDC does not have issues with the prosecution of public officials who misconducted themselves in office.
“We believe that when given the opportunity to serve this country, you must do that in accordance with the law,” he stated.
He continued, “However, criminal trials or proceedings are supposed to be done in accordance with the law. Our position is that, with the facts available to us, what happened in court yesterday [Tuesday, April 16] was a glaring miscarriage of justice.”
According to him, Article 19(3) of the 1992 Constitution provides that criminal proceedings must be done “in the presence of the accused.”
He also indicated that the former MASLOC CEO did not abscond but rather “sought permission from the court” through her lawyers to seek medical attention abroad.
“Sedina did not run away, she left on the permission of the court,” Mr. Agbana stated.
READ ALSO:
Furthermore, Edem Agbana noted that when the time the court granted Madam Sedina was nearing expiration, her lawyers again “put in an application with evidence of medical records” to show that the condition of the accused was “worsening,” requesting more time to have her day in court.
Mr. Agbana therefore disagreed with the court decision on Madam Sedina, indicating that her medical records were available with the courts, yet “they decided to try her in absentia, [which] we believe was a miscarriage of justice.”
Former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe jailed 10yrs
The NDC Keitu North parliamentary candidate also expressed confidence that the lawyers of Sedina Tamakloe would appeal the judgment of the court.
“I am confident that her lawyers will do the right thing; they will go to court and appeal the decision,” he emphasised.
The former MASLOC CEO and Director of Operations had both pleaded not guilty to a combined 78 charges which including conspiracy to steal, stealing, causing financial loss to the State, causing loss to public property, Improper Payment of Public Funds, Unauthorised Commitment resulting in Financial Obligation for the Government, Money Laundering and Contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney-General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, reacting to the ruling, stated that the state will extradite Madam Sedina to serve her jail term.