'We can’t fight corruption if governments keep clearing their own' – Kofi Bentil

Private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil has questioned the circumstances surrounding the acquittal of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, saying the outcome gives the impression that efforts were made to secure her release from prison.

Bentil said the developments in the case send the wrong signal about the fight against corruption.

“There is a clear trend that the smart thing to do is, if you get into trouble, find a way to escape and wait for your party to come to power,” he said on The Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, August 1.

According to him, the perception that governments reverse or undo cases involving their own political appointees weakens public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.

“We can’t fight corruption when the government is clearing its people,” Bentil stated.

The Court of Appeal recently overturned Sedina Tamakloe’s conviction and 10-year custodial sentence, acquitting and discharging her after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Commenting on the appellate court’s decision, Bentil argued that the number of charges initially brought against the former MASLOC CEO made the outcome difficult for him to understand.

“One charge alone is enough to put the person into jail. It looks like somebody just wanted to free Sedina,” he said.

While expressing his disagreement with the ruling, Bentil said the legal process has not yet come to an end and noted that he would wait to see how any further appeal unfolds.

“Let us see how the appeal goes, but I don’t think it is going to go anywhere,” he added.

-mynewsgh