THE permanent secretary for the Ministry of Rural Development will stand trial in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court starting on 11 May.
Selina Boso will be tried in a five-day hearing before the Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Kouhota.
This is for the charge of one count of failure to furnish information or failure to produce document as requested by the Ombudsman office or any member of staff acting on behalf of his duties.
She was charged contrary to section 20 (2) of Ombudsman (Further Provisions) Act.
This was in relation to the allegation between May 29, 2013 and September 25, this year.
Prosecution alleged she failed to furnish information on the Rural Constituency Development funds as lawfully requested by the Ombudsman and members of his staff.
The hearing date was fixed yesterday in the absence of the accused and her lawyer.
Public Solicitor lawyer Jenny Namo told the court that Boso’s lawyer agreed on a date in early May in which the magistrate set the trial date.
She stood on instructions from her colleague George Gray.
Public Prosecutor Sirepu Ramosaea told the court she received a letter from the defence regarding the absence of Boso in court yesterday.
She however, did not disclose the reason for her absence in court.
Boso’s bail was extended.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
