BY ROMINAH FAKA
Trial into the case of Ministry of Health and Medical Service (MHMS) million-dollar scandal started on Wednesday this week and was adjourned for today for continuation.
Prosecution charged Robert Manu with four counts of Official Corruption contrary to section 91 (a) of the Penal Code Cap 26.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecution’s first witness was called on Wednesday this week which is the auditor of the Ministry of Health and Medical Service during the time the offence occurred. His testimonies base on the insights into the audit findings and the fraudulent nature of the payments.
The second witness will testify today about their interactions with Mr Manu and the exchange of money.
Crown also tendered to court the internal audit reports which illustrate how irregularities were identified in the payments processed by the accused Manu.
The second evidence tended is the bank records which will show the deposits into the accused personal account align directly with the payments made to Eroba Shipping.
Prosecution alleged between 2012 and 2013, the Ministry of Health and Medical Service (MHMS) has suffered from a 10-million -dollar conducted by officers within the ministry.
Within that same scheme between November 2012 and August 2013, MHMS also made 15 payments totaling 4 7,301,453.40 to two shipping companies, Eroba Shipping Services (Eroba) and Joke Shipping (Joke). Both companies were managed by John Biliki and Wesley Poloso.
An internal audit by MHMS in August 2013 uncovered significant irregularities with these payments. The audit found all 15 payments to be fraudulent and suspected collusion between MHMS officials, as well as shipping agents, to defraud the Solomon Islands Government by bypassing application for project proposals. Notably, the accused Robert Manu, who was a Procurement Officer at MHMS, was involved in raising 12 of these 15 payments. Specifically, there are allegations that Manu corruptly received money in relation to four of these payments made to Eroba.
This case concern allegations of Official Corruption involving the accused Robert Manu who charged with corruptly receiving money between November 2012 and March 2013 while processing four payments for Eroba Shipping.
As a Procurement Officer, Manu duties included evaluating suppliers, approving products, and handing payment vouchers for MHMS- approved projects. However, during the period in question, he failed to adhere to these procedures. He facilitated payments for Eroba Shipping without the necessary approvals and documentations, thus bypassing the standard procurement controls designed to prevent fraud and ensure transparency.
Crown also alleges that Manu processed and approved four payments to Eroba Shipping for transporting materials to MHMS projects.
It is alleged that Manu also received payments into his personal bank account in exchange for facilitating these transactions.
Therefore, the crux of the crown case is that Manu used his position to expedite and authorize payments to Eroba Shipping by bypassing the proper procurement procedures, and in exchange, received large sums of money into his personal bank account.
Vernon Taupongi appears for Crown and Jim Seuika for the accused Manu.
