The Financial and Economic Division of the High Court in Accra has fixed April 16, 2024 to deliver judgment in the case in which “absconded” former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) boss, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu and interdicted Head of Operations, Daniel Axim are standing trial.
This was after Daniel Axim, the 2nd Accused person who had earlier indicated of calling witnesses, was forced to close his defence after he was unable to convince his witnesses to come to court to testify.
Mrs Tamakloe and Mr Axim have both pleaded not guilty to a combined 78 charges before the Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge.
The 78 counts include conspiracy to Stealing, 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.
Sedina, who is facing a trial in absentia after the court had declared her “absconded” was the Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) from November, 2013 to January, 2017.
Whilst, Daniel Axim, is the former Chief Operations Officer at MASLOC was ever present in court.
MASLOC is a government agency set up to assist small and medium scale businesses with low interest loans.
The Court has directed both the Prosecution and the defence to file their written submission by March 22 before its judgement on April 16.
Mrs Tamakloe who is the first accused person has been declared ‘absconded’ by the Court after failing to appear in court upon been granted permission by the Court for the past two years and is being tried in absentia.
Charges
Counts one to 35 are on charges of Stealing and Conspiracy to Commit Crime namely Stealing contrary to section 23(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
Counts 36 to 68 are on Causing Financial Loss to the State, Willfully Causing Financial to the State and Conspiracy to Commit Crime namely Willfully Causing Financial to the State all of which are contrary to section 23(1) and 179A (3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
Counts 70 and 71 bother on Causing Loss to Public Property, contrary to section 2 of the Public Property Protection Act 1977 (SMCD 140).
Furthermore, counts 72 and seventy three 73 has the statement of offence captured as Improper Payment of Public Funds contrary to section 96(1)(c) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
Counts 74 charges the first accused person, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu, with Unauthorised Commitment, Resulting in Financial Obligation for the Government contrary to section 96(1)(a) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
Counts 75) to 78 preferred charges of Money Laundering contrary to section 1(1)(c) of Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008 (Act 749) and Contravention of the Public Procurement Act contrary to section 92(1), and 40(1)(a) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
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