THE prosecution is yet to provide full disclosures on the case of the suspended Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Edmond Sikua.
Sikua, who faces seven counts of official corruption, appeared last Friday at the Honiara Magistrates’ Court and his matter was further adjourned to April 27.
Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice, who represented Sikua, told the court that the defence has already received a total of 45 statements from Police witnesses to date and are still waiting for some more statements from the police.
He stressed to the court the importance of the Crown making full disclosures before the Pre-Trial Conference starts.
Public Prosecutor Ishmael Kekou however, said he was unable to assist the court in relation to the status and progress of the disclosures since he was only standing in for his colleague Florence Joel.
Ms Joel, who is taking carriage of this matter, was engaged in the High Court with another case.
An adjournment was therefore sought by the prosecution.
Chief Magistrate John Numapo told the counsels that according to the Witness List tendered to the court by the Crown, there are a total of 66 witnesses altogether from various Ministries including the Ministry of Finance & Treasury, Ministry of Police, National Security & Correctional Services, RSIPF and Company Haus.
He said it appears therefore, that the Crown will have to obtain 21 more statements from Police witnesses to add to the 45 statements already disclosed to the defence.
Mr Suri requested the matter returned to the Court on 27th April, 2017 for mention and also to check on the progress of further disclosures.
The date for Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) previously set for 31st May, 2017 still remains.
Mr Suri indicated to the court that he is looking at August/September for the trial proper to commence as he is currently occupied with some High Court matters and the Town Ground Commission of Inquiry that might take him to end of July.
Mr Numapo told both counsels that at the PTC hearing on the 31st May 2017 he hopes to lock in some dates for the trial of this matter as the court diary is filling up fast.
He then granted the adjournment and extended Sikua’s bail on the same condition.
Sikua was charged in relation to the allegation on 22 December 2016 for allegedly awarding government tenders worth $630,436.50 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.
Prosecution alleged that as permanent secretary, Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.
It was alleged that between 18 December 2015 and 29 August 2016 Beeds Investments responded to calls for tenders and was awarded business contracts for service delivery to the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services on seven different occasions.
The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services have made payments of $630,436.50 to Beeds Investments for these services.
Prosecution further alleged that Sikua used his position of power and influence within the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services to manipulate the tendering process for his own and his family’s pecuniary advantage.
Sikua is the third public officer to have been arrested by Janus, since the establishment of the joint taskforce in August last year.
The other three are the financial controller of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Stephen Jude Oto and Inland Revenue Division (IRD) officers Ellison Raoga and Leslie Melaba.
Oto faces 11 counts of official corruption for allegedly awarding himself government tenders worth more than $800,000.
Raoga was accused of receiving payments for remitting a company’s tax worth more than $100,000 and faces one count of official corruption and six counts of fraudulent falsification of accounts.
Melaba faces two counts of official corruption for allegedly soliciting discounts, payments and bribes in offering to unlawfully remit the Farmset Ltd tax liabilities.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
