B.C. Appeal Court orders new trial for man who hit ex's dog over head with shoe

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a request by the Attorney-General to halt the enforcement of its decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Christine Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu. The State submitted the notice of withdrawal to the Court on August 10, effectively concluding the application.

The Attorney-General had previously requested the court to suspend the effect of the acquittal pending a further appeal. The State argued that granting the acquittal immediately could allow Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu to leave the jurisdiction, complicating the appeal process. Yet, her legal team raised objections regarding the withdrawal process.

They contended the Attorney-General should have sought court permission before filing the notice of withdrawal, given that the scheduled ruling date was already set for August 12. Counsel for Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu, Sidney Antonio, expressed the belief that the correct procedure would have involved the Attorney-General seeking court leave before withdrawing the application.

"Today's date was given by the court for the court to deliver its ruling, and we were just served yesterday with a notice of withdrawal. We believe the proper thing should have been for the Attorney-General to have sought leave of the court before going ahead and withdrawing because today's business was for delivering of ruling and that should have gone on today," he said.

It is also reported that the Attorney-General had filed a comparable application before the Supreme Court following the withdrawal of the one filed with the Court of Appeal. However, the defence claimed they were not formally notified of such an application. Following the Court of Appeal's decision in July 2026, the convicted CEO was acquitted and released from a 10-year prison sentence handed down by the Accra High Court in April 2024.

The appellate court ruled that the prosecution had not convincingly proven its case. Mrs Tamakloe-Attionu had been charged with 78 counts, including theft, financial loss to the state, and money laundering, and was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labor. The Attorney-General had sought to suspend the effect of the acquittal while seeking a further appeal.