Focus On Retrieving Stolen Goods Over Facing Imprisonment – Vitus Azeem

Anti-corruption advocate Vitus Azeem has urged the government to prioritize the recovery of embezzled state funds over incarcerating individuals found guilty of the crime.

His statement follows the sentencing of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, to 10 years in prison with hard labor for multiple acts of embezzlement that resulted in financial losses to the state.

Additionally, the former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, has been sentenced to a five-year prison term with hard labor.

The two individuals were found guilty on 78 counts related to causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and violating public procurement laws.

Mr. Azeem contended that if anyone is convicted of causing financial loss to the state, the primary objective should be to recover the misappropriated funds.

“As for sending the person to jail, it should be a second factor. That is penalizing the person for the crime. The state should be interested in getting the money back either in cash or properties acquired by the person in the years.”

“So for me, the priority should be recovering the money. Retrieving the money that has been illegally taken and then of course the person has committed a crime by illegally taking the money, you can now go ahead and jail the person,” he said.

Mr. Azeem stated that the investigation into Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and Daniel Axim should serve as a starting point, as there are numerous individuals implicated in the matter.

“The investigation should go beyond these two personalities. There are people who collaborated, there are people who connived. Some people condoned in this whole exercise and they should be brought to book.”