BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
2019 National General Election (NGE) candidates who failed to file their Statement of Account will be referred to the Police for investigation and possible prosecution.
Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) in their Press Statement on Wednesday this week said the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mr Mose Saitala will refer the candidates’ cases to the police.
SIEC said a total of 79 candidates out of the 331 contesting from the 2019 NGE have yet to file their ‘Statements of Account’ required under the Electoral Act 2018.
Final call was issued by SIEC through the media last Friday, July 19 for candidates contesting the 2019 NGE to file their ‘Statements of Account’ before last Saturday 20th, or prepare to face prosecution.
It is a requirement under the electoral law (Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2018) that all candidates, successful and unsuccessful, must file their campaign Statement of Account 90 days after the publication of NGE election results.
Under Section 69 on campaign expenses in the Electoral Act 2018, it states;
- Within 90 days after the publication of an election result under section 107, a candidate in the election must submit to the CEO a statement of account specifying:
(a) All expenses incurred by the candidate in relation to the candidate’s campaign for election; and (b) the source of all funds (including the amount received from each source) used to meet those expenses.
- The regulations may make provision for the preparation and content of the statement of account.
Under Section 125; Campaign expenses and donations:
(1) A candidate whose election campaign expenses exceed $500,000 commits and offence.
Maximum Penalty: 50,000 penalty units or five years imprisonment, or both.
(2) A candidate who fails to comply with the requirements of section 69 commits an offence.
Maximum Penalty:
(a) 20,000 penalty units or two years imprisonment, or both; and
(b) 100 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
(3) A candidate commits an offence if the candidate accepts a campaign donation from:
(a) A person who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands; or
(b) A company with at least one shareholder who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands.
Maximum Penalty: 50,000 penalty units or five years imprisonment, or both.
(4) In this section, “campaign donation” means any transfer of property made, otherwise than by will, without consideration or with inadequate consideration that is intended to be used, or is used, solely or substantially for a purpose related to an election.
