RSIPF arrest and charge Minister

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) today (14 December 2018) arrested the current Minister for Forestry and Research and Member of Parliament (MP) for Gao/Bugotu Constituency in Isabel Province and charged him in relation to an alleged misappropriation of Government funds.

Police will allege that on 25 December 2014, the MP converted $100,000.00 of Constituency Development Funds granted to the Gao/Bugotu Constituency by the Solomon Islands Government for the benefit of himself and others by using those funds to pay for a private Christmas party.

The Funding was entrusted to Members of Parliament purposely to deliver to constituents to help them meet their on-going socio-economic needs.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Crime and Intelligence, Ian Vaevaso says, “The arrest of the MP is a result of hard investigative work which has been ongoing for a long time.”

“I would like to thank my officers for their hard work, and the Office of the Director Public Prosecution for offering legal advice to my investigators,” says AC Vaevaso.

AC Vaevaso explains: “The MP has been charged with one count of Conversion pursuant to section 278 (1) (c) (ii) of the Penal Code, and appeared before the Honiara Magistrates Court this afternoon. He has been bailed to reappear in Court on 28 December 2018.”