THE INLAND Revenue Division (IRD) officer accused of defrauding the government of much needed tax revenue has denied the allegations against him, Monday.
Ellison Raoga entered not guilty pleas to one count of official corruption and six counts of fraudulent falsification of accounts.
Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti having noted all his pleas adjourned the matter to April 22, for the oral pre-trial conference on this matter.
She made direction for all pre-trial conference documents to be filed within the course of the adjournment.
Raoga arrested and charged by members of Task Force Janus, accusing him of receiving payments for remitting a company’s tax worth more than $100,000.
The accused worked as a compliance officer when he allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 16 June this year.
Prosecution alleged Raoga and another person having completed the Tax Assessments in respect to a Honiara-based logging company trading as Delta Timber Limited, allegedly entered into negotiations with a representative of that timber company for the waiver of their tax liabilities.
Prosecution alleged he solicited $30,000 payment for reducing Delta Timber Limited arrears to a zero balance,” the brief added.
He allegedly received $5,000 paid to him in two transactions.
It was unknown if Raoga received the outstanding $25,000.
Raoga was the second person to be arrested and charged for corruption offences since the Janus Taskforce was established in August last year.
The first arrest was that of Steven Jude Oto, the financial controller of the Ministry of Police and Correctional Services for allegedly obtaining more than $800,000 through dishonest tender processes.
Anderson Kesaka of DNZ & Partners is representing Raoga while Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda represents the Crown.
BY ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
