A FORMER police officer who was found guilty of obtaining $40.000 under false pretence from a man in 2019, will be sentenced after the issue about the delay on her case is sorted.
The defendant Pauline Sipi was found guilty of four counts of false pretence charge after a trial.
Her matter came before the court on Friday for sentence.
However, Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti raised an issue regarding the delay in this matter which she wants the prosecutor in charge to confirm if he agrees with or not before she delivers the sentence.
The defence has submitted that the incident occurred in July, August and November 2019.
Sipi was charged and dealt with by the police in 2021, the matter went before the court in 2022 and the trial was conducted in 2023.
When asked if the prosecution agrees to these dates, Public Prosecutor Francisca Luza said, she did not receive any instructions regarding the delay.
The court was informed that Steward Tonowane who is in carriage of this matter was in another trial in the High Court which was why he did not appear personally for this case.
The matter was then further adjourned to October 15 for prosecution to confirm if he agrees with the dates about the delay in this case.
The court had found that Sipi on four different occasions obtained a total of $40,000 under false pretences from a man whom she had an affair with.
Sipi had claimed she won a single cabin vehicle through the RSIPF vehicle tender bidding process.
Sipi went and asked the Complainant/victim at Macolu logging camp in Longu, East Guadalcanal between January 2019 and July 2019 if he was interested in the vehicle.
The Complainant said he was interested and then on four occasions between 3 July 2019 and 18 November 2019 gave a total of $40,000 to Sipi.
He waited to pick up the vehicle but Sipi would make excuses that the vehicle was at the residence of another Police Officer and that the officer travelled to the province.
The Complainant who was working as a security guard for the Macolu logging camp at that time reported the matter to the Police after he realised Sipi lied to him.
Allen Tinoni of Pubic Solicitor’s Office represents Sipi.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
