THE lawyer representing the former Correctional Service officer facing multiple fraud charges had withdrawn his legal representation on Tuesday.
Stanley Aupai of Public Solicitor’s Office said he withdrew his representation because his client did not follow instructions.
Don Lisi Talu is now without a lawyer.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi asked him to find himself another lawyer before the next court date on November 3 for a pre-trial conference.
Talu had pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, one count of uttering and one count of obtaining money on forged document involving only $2,000.
He however, denied the 54 charges of forgery, uttering, obtaining money on forged document, obtaining money on false pretence and false pretence in relation to more than $100,000.
The father of four allegedly withdrew more than $100,000 from the bank account of Thomas Rubulegu by forging his signature.
He allegedly transferred the bank credit from the Complainant to several accounts and withdrew the money for him.
Police further alleged he used the proceeds for his personal use.
The alleged incident occurred on several occasions between 15 December 2014 and 23 January 2015 when he was working for the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands.
According to the allegations, the accused got hold of two Bank of South Pacific (BSP) cheques which he claimed he found at a Vura 1 home, Honiara.
Police said the two cheques were already signed with the name of the Complainant on it.
Police alleged that without returning the two cheques to the Complainant, Talu on 16 December 2014 and 17 December wrote the date and amount on it and cashed it at the BSP.
It was alleged that on 11 occasions, he continued to withdraw money from the Complainant’s bank account by forging his signature and name.
He allegedly lied to the Bank Tellers that the account was ceased and then applied for mobile banking to be connected to the account of the Complainant.
Police then alleged that on 11 occasions after he got connected to the mobile banking service, he made mobile credit top up to his own mobile and to other mobile phones.
He also allegedly transferred bank credit from the Complainant’s account to nine different BSP accounts owned by other people on 10 different occasions.
Police alleged he met people in town and asked them to transfer money to their accounts, which they later withdrew.
It was alleged he would tell people he forgot or lost his Automatic Teller (ATM) Card.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
