The case of former Gao-Bugotu Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Manetoali has been adjourned to Monday 2nd February following an update on his medical condition.
Counsel Peter Sipolo of JS Ward & Associate informed the Honiara Magistrates’ Court on Friday that Manetoali was discharged from hospital last week, but is required to return weekly for medical reviews.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Rongomea, after hearing the update, adjourned the matter to Monday to allow senior counsel Jim Seuika to obtain instructions from Manetoali and properly inform the court.
Manetoali’s appearance was dispensed with while he was hospitalised.
Previously, the court refused an application for a temporary stay of proceedings but allowed long adjournments due to Manetoali’s ongoing medical condition.
The court ruled that while a stay was not warranted, Manetoali would not be required to attend court during this period.
Manetoali is facing a re-trial on 10 counts of conversion, relating to alleged improper payments from a $100,000 Taiwan-funded Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation deposited into the Gao-Bugotu Constituency account in December 2014.
He was previously acquitted of 18 counts of conversion in the Magistrates’ Court, however the prosecution successfully appealed to the High Court.
The High Court found the acquittal was wrong in law and ordered Manetoali to answer to 10 counts of conversion.
That decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal, resulting in the matter being remitted to the Magistrates’ Court for re-trial.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
