Bid process explained in court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

CHIEF Infrastructure of the Ministry of Police and National Security Christian Suri explained the bid process when he was testified in court on Wednesday.

Mr Suri in cross examination confirmed that anybody can participate in the bid when any project is tendered by the government.

He said that he was the chair of the Technical Evaluation Committee and his job is to assess and evaluate the applications before recommending to the Ministry Tender Board.

He also confirmed that the former PS Edmond Sikua is also the member of the MTB.

The defence Lawyer Gabriel Suri also questioned the witness on whether or not in any paragraph of the Request for Quotation that mentioned of no relatives or families of the employees within the Ministry to participate in the Bid, the witness said nothing like that was stated in the forms.

Christian Suri is one of the Prosecution witness giving evidence on the case against Mr Sikua who is charged with counts of official corruption contrary to section 91(a) of the Penal Code Cap 26.

Mr Sikua was charged in relation to the allegation on 22 December 2016 for allegedly awarding government tenders worth $630,436.50 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.

Prosecution alleged the accused Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.

The allegation said between 18 December 2015 and 29 August 2016 Beed 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.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown in court.

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