The Accra High Court has adjourned to April 20, 2023, the case in which the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mrs Sedinam Attionu Tamakloe, is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.
Mrs Tamakloe had absented herself from proceedings since October 2021, after she was granted permission by the court to seek medical care in the USA.
On January 23, 2023, the court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe granted the request of the prosecution to have the trial conducted in the absence of the accused.
Mrs Tamakloe, who is currently in the USA, is standing trial together with Daniel Axim, a former CEO of MASLOC, for wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
The prosecution filed an application for forfeiture of sureties, which had been granted and another for the trial to continue in her absence.
On January 23, 2023, Justice Botwe said the first accused had “disabled herself of the opportunity to be tried in her presence.”
She said “It is ordered that per article 19(3) (a) the first accused would be tried in absentia since she has disabled herself of the opportunity to be tried in her presence since she was duly notified.”
The court said there are two instances for which a person can be tried in absentia, indicating that the first is “if the person refuses to come for the trial after he or she has been informed about the trial,” and “If the person behaves in a robust way that disrupts the proceedings of the court.”
Justice Botwe, said, “This court is bolden that the first accused is well aware that this case is pending against her as she has participated in the trial for more than one year.”
The court ordered that a notice of the decision of the court should be served on the accused.
The court also ordered the posting of the order on the notice board of the court and at the last known place of first accused.
Justice Botwe also ordered that a single publication of the order should be made in a newspaper of national coverage, which publication becomes effective after 21 days.
The court directed Daniel Axim, the second accused, to inform his lawyer to complete the two hours cross-examination in the next sitting.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
