THE lack of funds by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to pay for witnesses’ expenses has resulted in trials being delayed or vacated in the High Court.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Andrew Kelesi, the office is struggling to secure finances to cover the costs of bringing witnesses from the provinces to Honiara for trials.
“We simply do not have the money to run trials, Mr Kelesi said.
Mr Kelesi explained that they are still waiting on the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to process their payment.
“I was told that cash flow to finance all these payments (ours and others too) is the issue.
“Our payments are in the queue with other payments that are before finance,” he added.
The lack of funds has already affected two trials that were scheduled for last week and this week.
“They were vacated because there is no money to bring the witnesses from the provinces to pay for their fares, accommodation in Honiara and daily allowance,” he explained.
He added that the current circuit in Gizo is also facing similar challenges.
Mr Kelesi said they are lucky to have one trial with witnesses already in Gizo, but they still don’t have the funds to bring in witnesses from the Western and Choiseul provinces.
“Additionally, an upcoming circuit in Lata, Kirakira (High Court) and the Central Islands (Magistrate) next month will depend entirely on funds available. If we do not have money by this week or next week, it will affect our cases,” Mr Kelesi said.
Mr Kelesi emphasised the gravity of the situation, saying, “We cannot bring witnesses from their provinces or even from Honiara if we do not have funds available to pay their airfares/sea fares, rent accommodations for them while attending trials, and receive daily allowances too.”
He said, “Our trials depend entirely on the funds available. No money, no trials for us.”
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
