The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako, has backed the Court of Appeal’s ruling to clear and release former MASLOC Chief Executive, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, insisting she was not given a fair hearing during her trial.
According to the legislator, the manner in which Madam Tamakloe Attionu was prosecuted meant the court never heard directly from her before delivering its verdict.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, August 1, Mr. Bediako argued that while her legal team took part in the process, their involvement was restricted to contesting the state’s evidence and did not include putting forward her side of the story.
“If you consider an in absentia trial, it’s similar to a situation where the prosecution files a submission of no case to answer. At that point the court decides if there’s a case, and the matter ends there because the accused is not present to begin their defence.
“That was exactly where this case got to. With nothing presented to counter it, don’t let anyone mislead you that her lawyers were there for her. Lawyers don’t present the accused’s defence, they only cross-examine prosecution witnesses. When it’s time for the accused to mount a defence, it’s not done by counsel. So the truth is, Sedina was never heard,” he said.
On Thursday, July 30, the Court of Appeal quashed the earlier conviction and set Sedina Tamakloe Attionu free.
She had been found guilty in a case relating to alleged financial irregularities during her time as head of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre. The ex-MASLOC CEO was convicted after the trial proceeded without her, following her failure to appear in court throughout the proceedings.
