The Accra High Court has ordered two sureties who secured GH¢5 million bail for former Micro and Small Loans Center (MASLOC) boss, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, to pay the bail to the state for failing to produce the accused. someone to try.
Sureties – Alex Mould, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Gavivina Tamakloe, the sister of the accused were accepted with forfeiture of recognition today (Jan 24) when the case came up. The hearing in the Court presided over by Judge Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe.
Under Section 104 of the Criminal Offenses (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), if the two sureties are unable to pay the GH¢5 million bail, the court can order the sale of the property to recover the amount. On February 7, 2023, the Court will decide whether to try Attionu in absentia or not.
His heart is absent
Attionu is on trial for allegedly causing a financial loss of GH¢90 million to the state during his tenure as CEO of MASLOC between 2013 and January 2017. He has failed to appear for trial for the past 16 months after being granted permission by the court to travel to the United States for medical treatment.
In November last year, Justice Asare-Botwe expressed displeasure at the situation and issued a warrant for Mrs. Attionu’s arrest to compel her to attend trial.
After that, the prosecution filed an application for trial in absentia.
It was then followed by an application for forfeiture of recognizance, which was directed to the two sureties who executed Mrs Attionu’s GH¢5 million surety bond to show any reason why she should not pay the surety amount in her absence. try.
The two sureties who posted the GH¢5m bail requirement for the former CEO of the Micro and Small Loans Center (MASLOC) were first ordered to produce the accused on December 22, 2022.
The court then extended the deadline due to the proceedings filed by the lawyers for the accused and the sureties.
Ruling
But in Court today (Jan 24), Justice Asare-Botwe, who has been promoted to the Court of Appeal, noted that the documents submitted to the court indicated that Attionu needed a minimum of six to nine additional months for further examination of her medical condition.
The court in the judgment did not have a medical report from the United States that indicated that the accused could not travel, or was not fit to stand trial.
He added that there were no reports indicating that medical examinations could not be carried out in his country.
“A 16-month delay is more than enough time given and I don’t think anyone can complain about a 16-month delay.
“So I have the unpleasant task of ordering that the bond be forfeited to the state,” the presiding judge said.
Source: graphic.com.gh
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not reflect Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no legal or other responsibility for the accuracy of the content. Please report inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a priority. |
Featured Videos