TRIAL of four former Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) workers charged in connection to the $10 million scandal that occurred in the ministry from 2012 to 2013 has been deferred to start on March 10.
The accused, which include the former financial controller Stephen Dalipanda, former Senior Accountant Randy Hatigeva, former Procurement Officer Robert Manu and former Accounts Officer Dalcy Maena, are jointly charged with two counts of False Pretence
The hearing of evidences in the case was initially scheduled to start on Monday this week.
However, the trial did not proceed as the prosecutor was ill and also the lack of funds by the government to meet witnesses’ expenses.
Public Prosecutor John Wesley Zoze requested a short adjournment, which was met with mixed reactions from the defence counsels.
One defence counsel opposed the delay, pushing for the trial to proceed on the scheduled dates, while others reluctantly agreed to a short adjournment after initially objecting to vacating the trial.
After hearing from all counsels, Principal Magistrate Ishmael Kekou adjourned the trial to start on March 10, stating that this would be the last adjournment of the trial.
The accused are charged with allegedly facilitating false payment of more than one million to a ghost shipping company called Joke Shipping Services for the transportation of materials to build clinics in Temotu Province and Lord Howe in Malaita Outer Islands.
Manu was previously convicted of three counts of Official Corruption in connection to this scandal, but only received a two-year suspended sentence.
He corruptly received $195,000 for facilitating payments to another fake shipping company called Eroba Shipping.
The millions of dollars scandalised came from the Solomon Islands Government and aid donors to support the improvement of rural health services.
The prosecution alleged that the defrauding of these monies severely affected implementation of health projects in the rural areas.
A private local contractor Tigi Sekele was charged with three counts of false pretence and will face trial separately later this month.
He allegedly fabricated invoices and submitted them to the MHMS to claim payment for services he never rendered.
It was alleged he received three payments totalling over $1million for the freighting of materials that were never delivered.
The accused are represented by private lawyers Jim Seuika and John Taupongi, as well as Rochelle Palmer and Jennifer Happylyn from the Public Solicitor’s Office.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
