Attorney-General to appeal Sedina Tamakloe’s acquittal
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has announced plans to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision acquitting former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Attionu Tamakloe, of all charges brought against her.
In a press release issued on Thursday, July 30, the Attorney-General said he has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, along with an application for a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.
The decision follows the Court of Appeal’s unanimous ruling overturning Ms Tamakloe’s conviction and 10-year prison sentence, acquitting and discharging her of all charges.
A three-member panel comprising Justices Emmanuel Ankamah, Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and Samuel Obeng-Diawuo held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The appellate court also criticised the trial court’s handling of the case, stating that the trial judge had lost sight of the constitutional principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In its statement, the Attorney-General acknowledged the Court of Appeal’s decision but said the Republic remains dissatisfied with the outcome.
“The Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately file a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, together with an application for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeal,” the statement said.
The Attorney-General further expressed confidence that the appeal would succeed and reaffirmed his commitment to due process.
“The Attorney-General remains committed to the due process of law and is confident that the appeal before the Supreme Court will succeed,” the statement added.
Ms Tamakloe was originally charged with 78 counts, including conspiracy to steal, stealing, conspiracy to cause financial loss to the state, causing financial loss to the state, causing loss to public property, improper payment of public funds, unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations to the government, money laundering and breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
She was tried and convicted in absentia by the High Court (Financial Division 2), presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, sitting as an additional High Court judge, and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The Republic had opposed her appeal before the Court of Appeal, arguing in written submissions that it lacked merit and should be dismissed. However, the appellate court set aside the convictions and ordered that she be acquitted and discharged.
Source:citinewsroom.com
