Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) documents on the matter of former permanent secretary for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Edmond Sikua is yet to be finalised.
Sikua’s matter was brought to the Honiara Magistrates Court on Wednesday and further adjourned to Monday next week.
This is for the pre-trial conference.
The adjournment period is to allow the PTC documents to be finalised and filed before the PTC is conducted.
A trial date will be fixed soon after the conference is conducted.
Sikua’s matter was listed previously for trial in October.
That trial date was however vacated after Chief Magistrate Emma Garo found technical faults regarding the charge sheets (forms) containing Sikua’s charges.
Ms Garo then ruled that those technical faults be rectified.
Now that the charges are rectified, a pre-trial conference will be conducted on Sikua’s case.
Sikua is facing seven counts of official corruption.
He was charged for allegedly awarding government tenders worth $630,436.50 to Beeds Investment on 22 December 2016, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.
Prosecution alleged that as permanent secretary, Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.
It was alleged that between 18 December 2015 and 29 August 2016 Beeds Investments responded to calls for tenders and was awarded business contracts for service delivery to the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services on seven different occasions.
The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services have made payments of $630,436.50 to Beeds Investments for these services.
Prosecution further alleged that Sikua used his position of power and influence within the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services to manipulate the tendering process for his own and his family’s pecuniary advantage.
Sikua is the third public officer to have been arrested by Janus, since the establishment of the joint taskforce in August last year.
He is represented by Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice while Public Prosecutor Florence Joel is appearing for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN