Former MASLOC CEO, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, has been jailed for 10 years for causing a financial loss of GH¢90 million to the state.
A former Operations Manager of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, who was also on trial with Madam Attionu, has been jailed for five years with hard labour.
They were both found guilty of 78 counts of conspiracy, stealing, unauthorized commitment resulting in financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
The prosecution accused them of stealing GH¢3.19 million while at MASLOC and willfully causing GH¢1.97 million financial loss to the state.
Again, they were accused of making unauthorized commitments resulting in financial obligations for the government to the tune of GH¢61.74 million.
The charges against the two also include GH¢22.15 million loss of public property, improper payment of GH¢273,743, and laundering of GH¢3.7 million.
They have been on trial since 2019.
In all, the prosecution called six witnesses to prove their case while the first accused Sedina Tamakloe was tried in absentia as she absconded after obtaining the permission of the court to seek a medical checkup in the United States.
The second accused person, however, testified in person but did not call any witnesses.
The court has also ordered the prosecution to undertake forfeiture proceedings against the convicts, particularly Madam Attionu.
The facts before the court suggest MASLOC under the accused’s leadership, gave a loan of GH¢500,000 to Obaatanpa Micro-Finance Limited, but the company had allegedly returned the money because of the high interest that the loan attracted.
According to the prosecution, Obaatanpa Limited presented a cheque for GH¢500,000 to Mrs Attionu, but she allegedly refused and demanded cash payment.
The state said the accused also allegedly inflated the price of certain items that MASLOC had purchased during her tenure, and in some instances signed procurement contracts without approval by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
On December 6, 2016, the accused person signed a contract with Mac Autos to supply MASLOC with 350 vehicles without any approval from PPA.
The vehicles, the state said, included Chevy Sparklite, Isuzu buses, and Chevy Aveo with the unit price offered by Mac Autos to MASLOC for the Chevy Aveo being GH¢74,495 ($18,883.39.)
However, investigations revealed that the actual retail price Mac Autos offered for the same model within the same year without duty was GH¢47,346.93 ($12,009.91).
Due to these facts, the accused persons were hauled before the Accra High Court.