Hearsay evidence at former MASLOC boss’ trial

The prosecution witness who claimed to have handed over GH¢500,000 in hard cash to the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Center (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu in a “Ghana Must Go” bag, has admitted he has never met nor spoken with her, casting doubts on his testimony in court.

Mr Samuel Quansah, shockingly revealed this under cross examination by lawyer for the former MASLOC Boss, Agbesi Dakpasu.

The witness also admitted recounting to the court, what had been told him by one Seth Asiedu Obugyei; the board chair of Obaatanpa Microfinance, who allegedly handed over the bag containing the said amount.

Lawyer Dzakpasu, had questioned how Mr Quansah, was able to identify Mrs. TamakloeAttionu, using the rear view mirror of a car in which he claimed he was sitting.

The witness revealed that, he has never had any form of encounter with the ex-MASLOC boss, raising questions as to how he was certain, whoever, he saw was Mrs. Tamakloe Attionu.

Samuel Quansah on Monday November 25, 2019, the first day of his evidence in chief, testified that he drove Seth Asiedu Obugyei; the board chair of Obaatanpa Microfinance to the Batsonaa Total Filling Station in Accra to hand over GH¢500,000 to Mrs. Tamakloe Attionu.

Even though, he admitted being in the car throughout the alleged incident, he claimed he was able to make out the former MASLOC Boss, through the rear view mirror of the car in which he was sitting , because he had seen her on TV earlier.

When asked when he watched the programme in question, Samuel Quansah, said he could not recollect.

Samuel Quansah, a board member of the Ejura-based Obaatanpa Microfinance whose license has been withdrawn, is a key witness in the Attorney General’s case that Obaatanpa Microfinance allegedly handed over some GH¢500,000 to the former MASLOC CEO.

The money was supposed to have been returned to the center by the financial institution, but it strangely decided to hand it overto Mrs. Tamakloe- Attionu in cash packed in bags.

The witness also admitted to lawyer Agbesi that his evidence is heavily influenced – hearsay – by what he was told by the board chair, Seth Asiedu Obugyei, instead of his personal knowledge.

Mr Quansah, also admitted he would be surprised if the board chair contradicted anything he said after his attention was drawn to the fact that the board chair in his caution statement said the GH¢500,000 loan was given to Obaatanpa at an interest rate of 2percent, instead of the 4percent alleged by the former board member.

Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, is facing trial alongside former Operations Manager of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

The two have been charged with 80 counts of stealing, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, conspiracy, contravention of the public procurement act, among other charges.