BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The conversion case against former Member of Parliament for Gao/Bugotu, Samuel Manetoali, has been further adjourned to Wednesday, March 25.
Manetoali is facing multiple counts of conversion charges after the Court of Appeal (COA) ruling delivered on October 31, 2025, upheld a 2023 High Court decision ordering a retrial, resulting in the matter being remitted back to the Magistrate Court before a different Magistrate.
On Monday, March 23, the matter came for mention before Chief Principal Magistrate Ricky Rongomea.
The Chief Principal Magistrate informed parties that three issues were raised at the last mention in relation to the defective charge: Firstly, that the current charge was filed while the COA process was still on foot.
Secondly, the wording as contained in the charge itself, appeared, would create confusion.
Thirdly, the charge had issues with its numbering – the counts are not numbered properly.
It follows, at the last mention, the court directed that the prosecuting counsel in carriage of the case file to attend court on Monday, March 23, to rectify and clarify issues raised in the said charge.
On Monday, March 23, prosecuting counsel, Ms Daisy Mosese, told the court that she was instructed by DPP office to appear on behalf of Mrs Olivia Ratu Manu, whom she tried to call her but was not reachable for reply, prior to attending court.
Chief Principal Magistrate further asked Ms Mosese, as to what was the arrangements like at the DPP office in terms of how case files are handled. She told court, usually the duty lawyers in carriage of the case files were supposed to appear in court and sit on mentions.
Chief Principal Magistrate told prosecuting counsel that court listings are issued days prior to mention date via email, hence, suffice to say that the problem rests solely on the Prosecutor in carriage of case file.
The defendant, in court, raised issues of continued adjournment. Mr Manetoali told court of his intentions to be self-represented, as he was having financial difficulties in paying his private lawyer.
He informed the court that he had already relayed that intention to his lawyer, Mr Jim Seuika of JS Ward & Associates, for withdrawn of service and that in the meantime, he seeks legal representation from the Public Solicitors office.
The court directed that the Prosecutor in carriage of the case file attend at the next mention to rectify and clarify issues raised in the defective charge, as the defendant is yet to be arraign for plea – whether or not the defendant pleaded guilty or not guilty to the conversion charges.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday, March 25, at 9am for mention.
Bail was extended for Mr Manetoali.
Prosecuting Counsel, Ms Daisy Mosese, appeared on instructions from Mrs Olivia Ratu Manu, and she represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The defendant represented himself in court.
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