A FORMER Correctional Service officer facing multiple fraud charges has been told to cooperate with any lawyer who represents him.
Don Lisi Talu was used to be represented by Stanley Aupai of Public Solicitor’s Office.
MR Aupai has however withdrawn his legal representation.
He is now without a lawyer and has requested another lawyer from the PSO but had not receive feedback from the office as of yet.
His matter is awaiting a pre-trial conference to be conducted.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi yesterday told Talu that he had to find himself a lawyer.
“The Public Solicitor’s Office has lawyers who have lots of other cases to deal with and not only to deal with your case.
“You were a difficult client which is the reason why your previous lawyer withdrew his legal representation.”
Ms Taeburi told Talu to cooperate with his lawyer if he is allocated a lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office.
She adjourned the matter to February 10 and told Talu to follow up with the Public Solicitor’s office for a lawyer in the meantime.
Public Prosecutor Elma Rizzu yesterday told the court that matter has just been allocated to her colleague Margaret Suifa’asia.
Talu had pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, one count of uttering and one count of obtaining money on forged document involving only $2,000.
He however, denied the 54 charges of forgery, uttering, obtaining money on forged document, obtaining money on false pretence and false pretence in relation to more than $100,000.
The father of four allegedly withdrew more than $100,000 from the bank account of Thomas Rubulegu by forging his signature.
He allegedly transferred the bank credit from the Complainant to several accounts and withdrew the money for him.
Police further alleged he used the proceeds for his personal use.
The alleged incident occurred on several occasions between 15 December 2014 and 23 January 2015 when he was working for the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands.
According to the allegations, the accused got hold of two Bank of South Pacific (BSP) cheques which he claimed he found at a Vura 1 home, Honiara.
Police said the two cheques were already signed with the name of the Complainant on it.
Police alleged that without returning the two cheques to the Complainant, Talu on 16 December 2014 and 17 December wrote the date and amount on it and cashed it at the BSP.
It was alleged that on 11 occasions, he continued to withdraw money from the Complainant’s bank account by forging his signature and name.
He allegedly lied to the Bank Tellers that the account was ceased and then applied for mobile banking to be connected to the account of the Complainant.
Police then alleged that on 11 occasions after he got connected to the mobile banking service, he made mobile credit top up to his own mobile and to other mobile phones.
He also allegedly transferred bank credit from the Complainant’s account to nine different BSP accounts owned by other people on 10 different occasions.
Police alleged he met people in town and asked them to transfer money to their accounts, which they later withdrew.
It was alleged he would tell people he forgot or lost his Automatic Teller (ATM) Card.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
