BY MELVILLE TITIULU
Defence in the conversion case against MP William Bradford Marau will file for bail variation to allow the defendant to travel to India from Fiji for kidney transplant.
The matter was adjourned for Wednesday, February 25 at 9.30 am for mention.
The case against Mr Marau, Member of Parliament for the Ulawa-Ugi Constituency, faces another delay due to his ongoing health issue.
The defendant was due to stand trial in April 2025 but this was also when circumstances rendered him unfit for trial and required him to seek medical treatment overseas, as the necessary services were not provided in the country.
Medical reports were provided to the satisfaction of the Court and Prosecution, and the Court granted permission for him to travel on medical grounds.
He initially travelled to Australia, where he received treatment at St Andrews Hospital.
In September 2025, he was transferred to Kidney Hub Fiji to continue treatment.
He is due to travel to India this month for final treatment.
Defence was directed to keep the Court and the Prosecution informed of his medical progress given the fact that Mr Marau remains outside the country on strict bail conditions and may only travel with the approval of the Court, supported by medical reports.
Yesterday in court, defence made oral submissions updating court on the state of the health of the defendant, with view to apply for client’s bail variation- seeking bail extension on the basis that the defendant is due to travel to India for kidney transplant and thus, awaits confirmation for bail variation.
Satisfied with the updated medical reports provided by Defence, Principal Magistrate Paile Joyceth permitted defence to file a bail variation to facilitate further travel from Fiji to India.
Bail for the defendant was also extended.
Marau faces one count of Conversion contrary to section 278 (1) (c) (i) of the Penal Code.
This was in relation to the allegation of misappropriation of $5million designated to shipping funds in 2016.
On April 27, 2017 a constituency report was submitted to National Criminal Investigation Department which caused an investigation into that report.
Prosecution alleged based on evidences revealed from that report that on January 22, 2016, Solomon Island Government deposited $5 million into Ulawa Constituency account with Bank of South Pacific (BSP) for shipping fund.
On February 17, 2016, the defendant instructed the BSP Bank to transfer the entire sum of said amount $5 million into his own personal account with ANZ Bank with 65 withdrawals totaling $ 6,023,326.70 having been made from the defendant personal account.
In addition to that, ten withdrawals amounting to $4,550,000 deposited into the business account of Aslan Stationaries with ANZ- a private company owned by the defendant.
At the end of 2016, the remaining balance in the defendant personal account was $27,868.87.
It is envisaged that upon completion of the required medical treatment, Hon. Marau is due to return to Solomon Islands to stand trial.
Ms Soaika J of Rano & Company Lawyers represents Marau. Mrs Olivia Ratu Manu represents the Crown.
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