The two accused who were found guilty after a trial to cashing a government cheque of more than $50,000 will re-appear in court early next month for mitigation and sentencing submissions.
Simon Tigota was found guilty of one count of forgery while his co-accused Betris Wale was found guilty of uttering.
This is for the offence in 2007, where Tigota forged one of the old government cheques he stole in 2006 and cashed it with the help of Wale.
Both accused stood trial in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court in 2010 and the judgment was handed down in May this year in the High Court.
The reason for the judgment being handed down in the High Court was that the then presiding magistrate who heard the trial is now a High Court judge.
After the judgment, the matter has been adjourned for accused to find himself a lawyer.
He however went to Auki where he was arrested by police for breaching one of his bail conditions that restricted him to leave Honiara Town boundary.
Tigota is now in custody awaiting his judgment, while Wale is on bail.
Now that Tigota has finally secured a lawyer to mitigate for him, the court set down October 8, this year for the presentation of the mitigation and sentencing submissions.
George Gray of Public Solicitor’s Office is representing both accused while Crown Prosecutor Sirepu Ramosaea represents the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN