PROSECUTION closed its case yesterday in the trial of Philip Bobongi, accused of stealing more than a million dollars of muted notes from the Central Bank of Solomon Islands.
The defence case is likely to start on July 23, this year with two witnesses.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Ronald Bei Talasasa called a total of 13 witnesses who gave their evidence.
The former CBSI currency officer Bobongi, 44, is standing trial for 38 counts of money laundering and two counts of larceny & embezzlement.
He allegedly stole more than $1.7 million of muted notes from the bank between 2007 and 2009.
It was alleged that Bobongi stole the muted notes when the bank is in the process of destroying them.
Prosecution further alleged that Bobongi at different times deposited certain amounts into his Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and that of his wife’s.
It was also alleged that part of the money was used by Bobongi to pay for properties and some were found in his brief case when police searched his house.
Wayne Ghemu and Sevuloni Valenitabua of Public Solicitor’s Office represent Bobongi while representing the State are Crown Prosecutor Maito’o Hauirae and the DPP.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
