The two security companies that secured Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, the former boss of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), a bail of GH5 million have been ordered by the Accra High Court to pay the bail bond to the state for failing to produce the accused person to stand trial.
When the case came up for hearing today, January 24, at the Court headed by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the sureties, Alex Mould, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Gavivina Tamakloe, the accused person's brother, were hit with a forfeiture of recognizance.
In accordance with the Criminal Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), Section 104, the court may order the sale of the properties of the two sureties in order to recover the GH5 million bail sum.
On February 7, 2023, the Court will decide whether or not to try Attionu absent. Attionu is on trial for allegedly causing the state a financial loss of GH90 million during her time as CEO of MASLOC from 2013 to January 2017.
After receiving permission from the court to travel to the United States for medical treatment, she has been absent from the trial for the past 16 months.
Justice Asare-Botwe expressed her displeasure with the situation in November of last year and issued a bench warrant for Mrs. Attionu's arrest to force her to attend the trial.
After that, the prosecution requested a trial in absentia.
After that, it filed an application for forfeiture of recognizance, asking the two sureties who signed Mrs. Attionu's GH5 million bail bond to explain why they should not be required to pay the bail amount because she was not present at the trial.
On December 22, 2022, the two sureties who fulfilled the GH5 million bail conditions for the former CEO of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) were given the first order to produce the defendant.
Due to processes filed by attorneys for the accused and sureties, the court later extended the deadline.
But ruling today (January 24), Justice Asare-Botwe, who has been promoted to the Court of Appeal, said that documents filed at the court showed that Attionu would need at least six to nine more months for a more thorough examination of her medical conditions.
In its decision, the Court said that the American medical report did not say that the accused could not travel or was not fit to stand trial.
She went on to say that there was nothing in the report that said the medical examination couldn't be done in her own country.
"I don't think anyone can complain about a 16-month delay. The entire delay is more than enough time that has been given.
The presiding judge ruled, "So I have the very unpleasant duty to order that the bond be forfeited to the state."
