State pursues sureties for former MASLOC boss

February 24, 2022

1 minute read

Two sureties for the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Ms Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu, are being pursued by the state over her continuous absence from court proceedings.

Ms Attionu had not attended court proceedings since October 2020, after she was granted court leave to seek medical care outside the country.

The sureties are Mr Alex Kofi Mensah Mould, former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Mr Gavivina Tamakloe, formerly with the National Theatre.

The accused was granted GH¢5 million bail in February 2019, after she pleaded not guilty to 78 counts of causing financial loss to the state, stealing and contravention of the public procurement.

On Wednesday, Mrs Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney, prosecuting, told the court presided over Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, that prosecution had filed two applications, a forfeiture of recognisance of sureties and trial of the accused in absentia.

She said the sureties would be served with the applications to explain why they should not pay the GH¢5 million.

Daniel Axim, a former operations Manager of MASLOC, who was also accused, was present in court when the case was called.

Ms Attionu and Mr Axim had been charged for allegedly stealing, and financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢93 million.

The two were charges for 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 accused 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.

Prosecution told the court that accused allegedly made unauthorized commitments resulting in financial obligations for the government to the tune of GH¢61,735,832.50.

Other charges preferred against accused by the state include 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.

The case has been adjourned to March 10.