BY ROMINAH FAKA
The High Court has postponed the appeal hearing into the 2013 Health ministry fraud scandal case for August 15.
The case involves former procurement officer from the health ministry (MHMS), who was convicted of corruption for receiving a large sum of money in exchange for facilitating payment to a fake shipping company.
The hearing was initially scheduled for Friday last week, July 11, but was deferred after prosecution sought an adjournment due to a death in their office.
Court granted the adjournment and the matter has been rescheduled for hearing on August 15, 2025.
The Magistrate Court has sentenced defendant Robert Manu to two years imprisonment, which was suspended under section 44 of the Penal Code.
In delivering the sentence, the presiding magistrate highlighted the significant eight-year delay in the case, which began in 2016.
The delay was considered a mitigating factor in the sentencing decision.
The magistrate noted that the prolong delay was caused by lack of proper case management and timely investigation.
The office of Director of Public Persecution was not satisfied with this and filed an appeal in the High Court, appealing that the sentence imposed by the Magistrate was manifestly inadequate.
The defendant, Robert Manu, former procurement officer at the MHMS was charged with four counts of official corruption.
Defendant Manu’s role was authorizing payments to Eroba Shipping, totaling to $1,608,371, by bypassing proper procurement procedures in exchange for large sums of money deposited into his personal bank account.
The payment he received amounted to $195,000.
This case is linked to a larger scandal that involved the ministry between 2012 and 2013, involving 15 fraudulent payments to Eroba Shipping Services and Joke Shipping, managed by John Biliki and Wesley Poloso.
In August 2013, an internal audit revealed that all 15 payments were fraudulent, with evidence suggesting involvement between MHMS officials and shipping agents to defraud the Solomon Islands Government.
Manu also charged with a separate charge of false pretence, together with other former Health workers, former finance controller, Stephen Dalipanda, former Senior Accountant, Randy Hatigeva, and former Accounts Officer, Dalcy Maena.
These former health workers allegedly caused a total of $1,594,935.10 to be paid to the ghost shipping service, Joke Shipping Services by fraud.
The two shipping agents John Biliki and Wesley Poloso of Eroba Shipping Service and Joke Shipping Service defrauded the Solomon Islands Government of approximately $7.3 million.
These millions of dollars were Aid donor funding and Solomon Islands Government money intended to support and improve rural health services. This severely affected the implementation of health projects in rural areas and left negative impact on the provision of government health services in rural areas.
Sabrina Habu of Public Prosecution office is prosecuting and Jim Seuika act for Manu.
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
