THE matter of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ulawa-Ugi Constituency of Makira-Ulawa Province, William Bradford Marau, who is accused of misusing 5million dollars of shipping funds is still in the Pre-Trial conference stage.
Marau is facing one count of Conversion.
The Pre-Trial conference on this matter was listed for Monday.
However, Public Prosecutor Francisca Luza told the court they were still waiting for the defence to get back to them on the pre-trial conference documents.
Ms Luza appeared on the instructions of her colleague Olivia Ratu Manu, who is in carriage of this matter.
The defence counsel Jillian Soaika of Rano & Company having confirmed receipt of the draft pre-trial conference documents said she noted that few statements in the pre-trial conference documents were not disclosed.
She added that the facts and issues need to be finalized and therefore sought a 14-day adjournment to finalize and file the pre-trial conference documents.
The presiding magistrate therefore adjourned the matter to July 29 at 10am for the pre-trial conference.
She also directed the defence to urgently inform the prosecution on issues raised.
The prosecution alleged Marau converted SBD5million of shipping funds that Solomon Islands Government (SIG) paid into the Ulawa-Ugi Constituency Account with Bank South Pacific (BSP) in 2016.
On 22 January 2016, SIG paid into the Ulawa-Ugi Constituency Account with BSP the amount of SBD5million as Shipping Fund.
It was alleged that on 17 February 2016, the MP advised the BSP Bank to transfer the SBD5million into his personal account with ANZ Bank.
The prosecution further alleged that 65 withdrawals were made from the accused’s personal account totaling SBD6, 023,326.70 and a further 10 withdrawals totaling SBD4, 550,000 were deposited into the business account of Aslan Stationeries with ANZ. Aslan Stationaries was a private company owned by the MP.
At the end of 2016, it was alleged that the balance remaining in Marau’s personal account was SBD27,868.87.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
