MINISTER for Justice and Legal Affairs William Marau will be sentenced tomorrow for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
This followed the sentencing submissions and mitigation on his matter on Monday at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
Marau entered his guilty plea to the charge of presence of alcohol in a person’s blood on Thursday last week.
In mitigation on Monday, Mr Marau apologised to the court for his actions and said he willingly accepts the penalty that will be imposed on him.
He said being a national leader and the minister for the justice and legal affairs he apologised and assured the court it won’t happen again.
He then told the court he regretted what he did which he described as “an unfortunate incident and not one that is done intentionally”.
In relation to the issue of banning of his driving license which was raised in court, Mr Marau pleaded with the court not to impose the ban.
He said due to his responsibility as a minister for justice and legal affairs, if his driver was not available he will need to drive.
Therefore, he said he did not see the banning as appropriate.
When asked by the presiding magistrate if he was one of the Members of Parliament who passed the draft new Transport Act?
Marau said “yes”.
Police Prosecutor Ambrose Motui had suggested a fine of $4000 to be imposed on Marau.
The maximum penalty for this offence is a $10,000 fine or one year imprisonment.
The warrant of arrest issued on Tuesday last week on Marau was withdrawn two days later in court after the court was satisfied with the explanation he gave the court.
Marau was attending a Cabinet conference the whole day and therefore could not attend court last week.
Marau was charged after police conducted a Random Breathalyzer Test (RBT) on him on 4 March 2017, in front of the Central Police Station and found him positive of alcohol in his blood.
Police stopped him in the RAV 4 vehicle he was driving and conducted the first test where police found positive with a reading of 0.145 per cent.
He was taken to the Central Police Station where a second test was conducted which resulted in a reading of 0.132 per cent.
With both readings positive, police then charged Marau.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
