Prosecution will be informing the court on its position in relation to a plea bargain offer from the defence counsel in relation to a fraud case.
Eddie Vaurou was charged with 24 counts of forgery of certain documents with intent to defraud.
Henry Kausimae of Public Solicitor’s Office who represented Vaurou on Wednesday told the court he had made a representation to the prosecution in June but prosecution has not yet responded to it.
He said he was instructed by his client that if prosecutions withdraw counts 12 to 24, his client will plead guilty to counts one to 11.
He said if prosecution does not accept the representation, the defence will be raising an issue of Alibi in relation to counts one to 11.
“The accused in relation to the withdrawals made on counts 12 and 24, was somewhere else at Lata, Temotu during those times.”
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi said the proposal was made two months ago and it was the first time she has heard about it in court.
She agreed with the defence counsel’s proposal saying it is a reasonable offer to speed up the case.
“Prosecution is to consider the representation and respond to it by June 23.”
She said the court is to be informed of prosecution’s status of the negotiation on August 12.
“If the matter is not resolved by then, the accused is to be arraigned.”
Vaurou was accused of forging more than $15,000 from a private account at the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Agent at Lata, Temotu Province.
The alleged incidents occurred between 18 August 2014 and 15 October 2014.
Police alleged Vaurou withdrew more than $15,000 from the account of Ruxton Diwa at Lata BSP Bank on different occasions.
It was alleged that when Vaurou went to the bank agent, he would tell the officers when they asked him for his Bank card, that he lost his card. According to the court documents, it is bank policy for customers to present their bank cards when withdrawing money.
The accused however, allegedly withdrew the monies without any bank card as he always gave excuses to the bank officers that he lost his card.
It was alleged that bank officers at the Lata BSP Agency has mistaken Vaurou for Ruxton Diwa because he allegedly frequented the bank to withdraw money from the said account.
Vaurou was discovered by BSP Bank in Honiara that an account owned by Diwa of Russell Islands, Central Province, was also allegedly forged by Vaurou.
The Police Prosecution represents the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
