THE prosecution will be making an order to forfeit money belonging to the One Link Pacifica boss, Charles Dora, held in a suspense account to the state.
It was heard in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday that the claim will be filed in the High Court at the end of this month.
Dora, after his release from prison, tried to withdraw less than $100,000 from his account at the Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) but was not able to because of a freezing order.
He was sentenced last year for operating the scheme – One Link Pacifica – and has now been released after serving his term.
After his release, Dora obtained a letter from the police.
Police in that letter advised the bank to release the money after their investigation discovered the money was not linked to One Link Pacifica.
Dora tried to withdraw the money but encountered legal issues.
The lawyer of the bank had advised the bank to cancel Dora’s bank account and have the money transferred to a suspense account to await further orders before it can be released.
It was because of this issue that this matter regarding the frozen account came before the court.
Police obtained an order to freeze Dora’s account at the POB in 2021 during their investigation into Dora’s operation of One Link Pacifica.
Dora operated the money investment scheme without a bank license from July 2019 to March 2020.
Over the period from 4 July 2019 to 30 March 3030, Dora obtained $56, 440,475 deceitfully from One Link Pacifica customers.
Only $121, 791.20 was recovered.
OLP ceased its operations in March 2020 and the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) referred the matter to the police on the 27 March 2020.
Police arrested Dora in June 2021 and charged him with one count of Operating an Unlicensed Banking Business.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced last October.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Newsroom
