THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is set to file an appeal against the sentence imposed on Robert Manu, the former procurement officer of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).
Manu received a two-year suspended sentence for corruptly receiving $195,000 in exchange for facilitating payments to a fake shipping company.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Andrew Kelesi confirmed that they are appealing the magistrate’s sentence, stating that it is “manifestly inadequate.”
He pointed out that the case involves significant abuse of financial systems and processes, particularly regarding payments designated for crucial national projects, such as healthcare.
Mr Kelesi highlighted the amount of money involved and Manu’s role as a procurement officer.
As someone entrusted with ensuring the transparency of systems and processes, he said Manu had a critical responsibility to meet public expectations.
The DPP asserted that the sentence was insufficient given Manu’s breach of trust as he had abused his powers by accepting payments for his personal use.
The appeal documents were expected to be filed at the High Court registry office on last week.
Last Friday, the Magistrate’s Court sentenced Manu to two years’ imprisonment, which was subsequently suspended under section 44 of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa found Manu guilty of three counts of official corruption after a trial.
During the sentencing, Magistrate Pakoa strongly emphasised the eight-year delay in this matter, which began in 2016 and took this into account when considering the mitigating factors.
“As I see it, this delay was caused by a lack of proper case management and timely investigations,” Magistrate Pakoa stated.
“There’s no doubt that Manu suffered psychologically over the past eight years,” Magistrate Pakoa added.
“In my view, it’s fair to say that punishment that is delayed too long is itself an injustice.”
The conviction stemmed from Manu’s role in authorising payments to Eroba Shipping, totaling $1,608,371, by bypassing proper procurement procedures in exchange for large sums of money deposited into his personal bank account.
The payment he received amounted to $195,000.
The case is linked to a larger scandal that embroiled the MHMS between 2012 and 2013, involving 15 fraudulent payments to Eroba Shipping Services and Joke Shipping, managed by John Biliki and Wesley Poloso.
An internal audit in August 2013 revealed that all 15 payments were fraudulent, with evidence suggesting collusion between MHMS officials and shipping agents to defraud the Solomon Islands Government.
Manu is also awaiting trial for a separate case of false pretence, together with other former Health staff, including former finance controller Stephen Dalipanda, former Senior Accountant Randy Hatigeva, and former Accounts Officer Dalcy Maena.
A private local contractor, Tigi Sekele, is also charged separately in connection to this health scandal and is awaiting trial for three counts of false pretence.
It is alleged that Sekele fabricated invoices and submitted them to the MHMS to claim services that were never rendered, receiving payments totaling over $1 million for these fake services.
The former health workers allegedly caused a total of $1,594,935.10 to be paid to the ghost shipping service, Joke Shipping Services, by false pretences.
The two shipping agents John Biliki and Wesley Poloso of Eroba Shipping Service and Joke Shipping Service defrauded the Solomon Islands Government of approximately $7.3 million.
Poloso was convicted and jailed for two and a half years in 2014 for receiving $1.5 million of the fund.
Biliki’s matter was discontinued in 2019 in the High Court after he passed away due to illness.
These millions of dollars were aid donor funding and Solomon Islands Government money intended to support and improve rural health services.
The prosecution alleged that these have severely affected the implementation of health projects in rural areas and have had an unfavorable impact on the provision of government health services in rural areas.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
