BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
FORMER Constituency Development Officer for Temotu Nende has been slapped with a 19-month jail term for the charge of official corruption.
Philip Tuplo was earlier found guilty of one count of official corruption relating to an incident that occurred in 2013.
Principal Magistrate Leonard Chite imposed 19-month imprisonment after considering the mitigating and aggravating factors of the case.
Chite also ordered the forfeiture of a total of amount $58,500, the amount Tuplo built his house with at Mebialo.
Chite said the amount is to be paid within the month the sentence is imposed, failure to comply with the court orders, the defendant will serve 22 months in jail.
Tuplo between the dates February 16, 2013 and September 19, 2013, being employed in a public service as the Constituency Development Officer for Temotu Nende Constituency, corruptly obtained Constituency Development Funds, in the sum of $58,500 for himself on account for the payment of project materials for Mebialo Housing Project in the discharge of the duties of his office.
Tuplo was convicted by the court on November 4, 2022 and he was remanded in custody since.
The court also made directions that the period he spent in custody will also be considered on the total sentencing period imposed.
Public Prosecutors Samuel Tovosia and Vernon Taupongi appeared for the Crown while Charles Gabily represented the defendant.
