Defence case on the trial of the South Guadalcanal Member of Parliament (MP) David Dei Pacha will commence on July 8, in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecution has completed its case recently and the hearing was halted and further adjourned to next month for the defence’s case.
The case was brought to court yesterday for an interim mention date before the trial kick start.
Pacha was excused from attending yesterday’s mention.
David Dei Pacha is standing trial for the second time around in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
The first trial never proceeded on to the defence case as Pacha’s lawyer made a no case to answer at the end of the prosecution’s case.
The presiding magistrate at that time ruled in Pacha’s favour and has him cleared of the charges of conversion and abuse of office against him.
This was in relation to the allegations he misused more than $148,000 of public funds intended for a micro-project in his constituency in 2006.
Prosecution however successfully appealed against Pacha’s appeal in the High Court which saw the case remitted to the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
This is either for a new trial or for the defence case.
Since the contract of the presiding magistrate on the first trial ended and he had already left the country, a new trial was held before another magistrate.
He is Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika.
Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Legal Practice is representing the MP while Crown Prosecutor Augustine Aulanga represents the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN