THE Inland Revenue Division (IRD) officer accused of defrauding the government of much needed tax revenue will be taking his pleas next week.
Ellison Raoga appeared in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court and his matter was further adjourned to Monday next week.
Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda yesterday informed the court that the defence counsel had informed him his client is ready to take his plea.
Anderson Kesaka of DNZ & Partners had instructed Mr Dalipanda to ask for an adjournment to today.
He was unable to attend court due to other commitments.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo having heard from the prosecution granted an adjournment to next week.
He said the matter will go before the Chief Magistrates as he is the one in carriage of this matter.
He then advised Mr Dalipanda to inform Mr Kesaka of the next court appearance and extended Raoga’s bail.
Raoga is facing one count of official corruption and six counts of fraudulent falsification of accounts.
He was arrested and charged by members of Task Force Janus, accusing him of receiving payments for remitting a company’s tax worth more than $100,000.
The accused works as a Compliance Officer when he allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 16 June this year.
Prosecution alleged he and another person having completed the Tax Assessments in respect to a Honiara-based logging company trading as Delta Timber Limited, allegedly entered into negotiations with a representative of that timber company for the waiver of their tax liabilities.
Prosecution alleged he solicited $30,000 payment for reducing Delta Timber Limited arrears to a zero balance,” the brief added.
He allegedly received $5,000 paid to him in two transactions.
It was unknown if Raoga received the outstanding $25,000.
Raoga was the second person to be arrested and charged for corruption offences since the Janus taskforce was established in August this year.
The first arrest was that of Steven Jude Oto, the financial controller of the Ministry of Police and Correctional Services for allegedly obtaining more than $800,000 through dishonest tender processes.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
