BY ROMINAH FAKA
The case of Member of Parliament for Ugi/Ulawa Constituency William Bradford Marau has been further suspended to February 5 for interim-mention.
During interim-mention yesterday, defence informed court its key witness recently passed away.
Therefore, defence sought an adjournment for at least a month and for the trial to be vacated to another date.
The duty prosecutor informed court that if the matter can be suspended to a later date, for the counsel in carriage of the file to appear personally in court, to respond to the issue raised by the defence.
The trial date was already been set for February 10.
Court after hearing the issues raised by defence adjourned the matter to February 5 for mention, and made directions for any applications for vacating the trial to be heard on February 5.
Marau was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Ugi/Ulawa Constituency 2024.
Prosecution charged Marau with conversion and he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The allegation alleged that Marau is facing a count of conversion in relation to the allegation of misappropriation of $5 million designated to shipping funds in year 2016.
On April 27, 2017 constituency report was submitted to National Criminal Investigation Department which they investigate following that particular reported submitted.
Prosecution further alleged from the investigation it was revealed that on January 22 of 2016, Solomon Island Government deposited $ 5 million into Ulawa Constituency account with Bank of South Pacific (BSP) for shipping fund.
It was further alleged, on February 17, 2016 the defendant instructed the BSP Bank to transfer the entire sum of said amount $ 5 million into his own personal account with ANZ Bank.
Prosecution also stated 65 withdrawals which total to $ 6,023,326.70 has been made from the defendant personal account.
In addition to that, ten withdrawals amounting to $ 4,550,00 deposited into the business account of Aslan Stationaries with ANZ a private company owned by the defendant.
And at the end of 2016 the remaining balance in the defendant personal account was $ 27,868.87.
Office of Public Prosecution act for the Crown and Rano and Company law firm act for the defendant.
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