THE court case that was transferred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from police due to ‘pressure of political nature’ will return to court on October 20.
This is to allow the prosecutor who was allocated the file to go through the file.
Crown Prosecutor Willy Vaiyu told the court yesterday that the matter was already allocated to a prosecutor since it was transferred from the Police Prosecution.
He however said the prosecutor is yet to go through the file and therefore sought a seven-day adjournment.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika gave a 14-day adjournment to allow the prosecutor to go through the file.
John Niqe, Eddie Kodo, Max Qoloni and Jack Zuovai are accused of spreading false rumours about their Member of Parliament for South Choiseul Elijah Doromuala.
Doromuala lodged a legal complaint against his constituents for “spreading false rumours that he misused the constituency funds”.
The matter was for consideration of a withdrawal due to insufficiency of evidence but a police prosecutor in charge of the case said that due to pressure of political nature from the complainant and senior investigators, the matter was transferred to the DPP office.
It was previously heard in court that the four accused have also lodged a legal complaint against the MP for alleged misappropriation of funds.
George Gray of Public Solicitor’s Office is representing the four accused.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
