CDO jailed for corruption
FORMER Constituency Development Officer (CDO) for Temotu-Nende, Philip Tuplo, has been jailed for corruption.
Tuplo was convicted of one count of official corruption for conversion of more than $58,000 constituency fund in 2013.
On November 25, the Magistrate Court sentenced him to one year and seven months behind bars.
Magistrate Leonard Chite when handing the sentence made it clear that those who find passion in stealing from the government or acquiring monies from abuse of position are bound to imprisonment.
He also made an order forfeiting $58,500 from Tuplo personally and is payable on December 29.
“The payment of the sum is levied against the Defendant’s personal properties, including the three-bedroom home at Mebialo Village, Temotu Province (subject to confirmation of ownership).
“In default of the payment, the defendant will serve 22 months imprisonment or 1 year 10 months imprisonment,” Magistrate Chite said.
He described the offence committed as very serious considering the defendant was vested with the responsibility to look after and administer Constituency Development Funds for the Constituency.
He said clearly, the role encompassed, although indirectly, looking after the welfare and financial limitations, as well as the greater need of the less fortunate, including other community-based development plans.
“Therefore, to acquire that money is the guise or pretext of financing a Housing Scheme Project for his own family is an outright disrespect, breach of trust, and lack of empathy to those he promised to serve,” he said.
He said it is not an amount that could easily be derived by any ordinary individual; even a financially healthy person could have to dig deep into his or her coffers to acquire such an amount.
“So, to have used that for personal benefit and to the detriment of the constituency as well as, negatively impacting the Government budge, is serious.
“I am confident that the defendant has learned his lesson the tough way.
Magistrate Chite said there is no gain in using one’s position to illegally acquire Constituency funds for personal gain, and to have boldly stated that it was his “right” as a member of that constituency to do it is, in his view, foolish.
He said this is because whenever one assumes a role of looking after or administering the funds of any community for which he or she is part of, he or she must be mindful of several matters.
These are the need to keep confidential matters a secret, the obligation to disclose conflict of interest issues and the need to avoid putting one’s hands in the till and so forth.
“In those instances, a prudent choice would be to reassign the task to an independent person to proceed with it.
“It is always a safe approach to never facilitate or expedite any application for his own family while holding the position responsible for disbursement of the funds, or position responsible for vetting, approving, and signing of project applications,” Magistrate Chite said.
The offence was committed between 16 February 2013 and 19 September 2013 while he was being employed as a CDO for the Temotu Nende Constituency.
Man denies Tulagi well murder
THE man accused of murdering the man whose body was found in a well at Tulagi, Central Islands Province, in September has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Dickson Sina, 56, entered his not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared before the Honiara Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
His matter will return to court on December 9 for a short form preliminary inquiry (committal hearing).
The deceased left his home for the Tulagi market on September 24 but failed to return home that day.
His dead body was later discovered inside the well at Smoking Area in on September 26.
The well was said to be located a few metres away from the main road.
Residents near the Tulagi Wharf use the well for bathing and washing. Few houses are located near the well.
Man to plea to murder of disabled man
THE man accused of killing a paralyzed man at West Kolaridge, Honiara, in October will plea to the allegation on December 20.
Jemmy Teleinao, 27, is facing the murder of 42-year-old Desmond Mane on 23 October this year.
His matter was mentioned in court on Tuesday where it was heard investigation has already completed and full disclosures were also served to Teleinao’s lawyer.
Principal Magistrate, Leonard Chite, had adjourned Teleinao’s matter for plea and for a committal hearing on the next court date.
Teleinao allegedly hit the deceased with a walking stick on October 23, 2022.
It was alleged the accused got angry with the deceased for ordering him twice to fetch water to mix their left over drinks.
Teleinao, the deceased with other youths at West Kolaridge were said to be on a drinking spree just beside the Jacob’s ladder at the area on the night of 22 October this year.
The prosecution alleged that the youths enjoyed their time together throughout the night until the next day, Sunday October 23.
At that time, the rest of the boys left, leaving Teleinao and the deceased alone.
The duo continued drinking until between 10am and 11am when the deceased ordered Teleinao to fetch water to mix their left-over drinks.
He left but then returned a few minutes later without any water.
The deceased then ordered him for the second time to get water.
It was alleged that upon his return with water, Teleinao was angry with the deceased for ordering him.
He then took the deceased’s walking stick and struck him on his back thrice and once on his neck, causing the deceased to fall helplessly on the ground whilst attempting to prevent his head from being hit.
The assault stopped when neighbours intervened and tried to save the deceased who had lost his breath.
After regaining his breath, he was assisted to the National Referral Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
The deceased was born paralyzed and thus used a walking stick his entire life.
