PROSECUTION will be assessing the bulk case file containing the matter of a man facing multiple false pretences and uttering false document charges before preparing the disclosures.
The defendant Chrisbane Habala, 47, is facing 11 counts of False Pretences and 18 counts of Uttering a False Document.
He appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court for his first court appearance on Monday and his matter was further adjourned to November 22.
The adjournment was made after Public Prosecutor John Wesley Zoze confirmed in court that he will be the prosecuting counsel and that he needs time to assess the case file first before preparing disclosures and will update court on the status of investigation into the case.
Chief Magistrate Emma Garo, who presided over the mention, advised Mr Zoze to discuss with the case officer to update him on the status of investigation.
She then adjourned the matter to give time for Mr Zoze to assess the file, prepare disclosures and serve them on Public Solicitor George Gray.
Habala confirmed to the court that Gray is his lawyer.
The charges relate to allegations that occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2023 when Habala was a Sales Manager with Raretech Enterprises, a Honiara-based business which supplies ICT equipment and services.
The prosecution alleged that Habala provided multiple false invoices from competitors to the Ministry of Mines Energy and Rural Electrification in order to ensure that Raretech Enterprises provides the lowest quotation for goods and services and ultimately wins contracts to supply ICT equipment to the ministry.
It was alleged that the action resulted in Raretech Enterprises being awarded procurement contracts of almost $400,000.00 over a two-year period.
Following this allegation, an investigation was carried out by the Taskforce Janus which resulted in the arrest of the defendant.
Taskforce Janus is made up of specialist officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) internal audit office.
It was established in August 2016.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
