THE court has deferred the sentencing of a man who allegedly defrauded the government of about $1.5 million to June 25.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika said he had just returned from a court circuit and has not prepared the sentencing.
He therefore adjourned the matter to give him time to prepare the sentencing.
The accused, Wesley Poloso of Choiseul province was initially charged with two counts of false pretence and one count of money laundering.
He however pleaded guilty to two counts of false pretence while the third charge was withdrawn under section 190 (2) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
These were in relation to the incidents between 2012 and 2013.
Police said in December 2012, Poloso acquired a tender award from the ministry of health & medical service and then registered a business known as Joke Shipping service.
Police said he registered that business on March 1, 2013 with intend to defraud the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).
The SIG funding that Poloso acquired was purposely to transport building materials to rural clinic in Manuopo in Temotu province and Malaita Outer Islands.
The building materials were never shipped to the provinces and there was no ship being chartered by Joke Shipping service to transport the said materials.
This building materials as alleged by police are still with the suppliers and there was no building materials shipped and there was no ship being chartered by Joke Shipping Service to transport the said materials.
Though the funding was already used up, materials that were supposed to be shipped were still with suppliers.
Blue Ocean Shipping company that was supposed to transport those materials did not receive any payment for chartering from the accused’s shipping company for trips to Temotu and MOI.
Emma Garo of DNS & Partners represents Poloso while a Police Prosecutor appeared for the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
