The former Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening, David Tome, accused of converting $80,000 of constituency fund will appear in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court for the closing submission on his matter.
Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea will then set a date for the judgment after hearing the closing submissions at 1.30pm today.
The trial ended last Friday after Tome gave his sworn evidence in court.
After giving his evidence, he did not call any witness.
Tome gave his evidence after Mr Iomea overruled his no case to answer submission made at the end of the prosecution case.
Michael Pitakaka of Michael Pitakaka Law Chamber made the no case to answer stating that Tome has no case to answer to and that he should be acquitted.
Public Prosecutor Ishmael Kekou however said there is sufficient case for Tome to put his defence.
The Member of Parliament for Baegu/Asifola is facing one count of conversion.
He was initially charged with 14 counts of conversion involving about $70,000 but that charge is now substituted to only one count of conversion involving $80,000.
Prosecution alleged that on 27 June 2011, Shem Tome on behalf of the community association owned and registered as Grass Root Economic Development Community (GREDC) which was involved in tree farming or reforestation had submitted their application for the amount of $80,000 to Tome, through the Forestry office in Auki.
The money was meant for buying tools and materials for reforestation.
After going through some process, the Ministry of Finance approved and paid the amount of $80,000 on 24 August 2011 from the Government Account for this project.
Police investigators however, alleged Tome collected the cheque on an unknown date from the Ministry of Finance and later deposited it into his constituency account on 9 September 2011 at the ANZ bank in Honiara.
He then allegedly withdrew various amounts of money on various dates on September 2011 totalling up to $80,000.
The money, according to the proposal, should be paid to Honiara Hardware for tools and materials in full and not for withdrawal in single cheques as the accused allegedly did.
Shem and his community members have no idea whether or not the payment was made until a forestry officer made it known to one of them who in turn reported the matter to the police.
Public Prosecutor Ishmael Kekou is appearing for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
