BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
THE case against a former director of the defunct money scheme One Link has been adjourned for May 14 for pre-trial conference (PTC).
Gerard Tauohu’s case was mentioned before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea yesterday, however PTC was not conducted since prosecution did not state clearly the issue for trial regarding one of the charges against the accused.
Tauohu was earlier faced with 33 counts of false pretence under the penal code, and one count of unlicensed financial institution under the Financial Institutions Act 1998.
However, after prosecution further assessed the charges they amended the initial charges of false pretence charges to simple larceny charges.
Prosecution then charged Tauohu with seven counts of simple larceny and one count of unlicensed financial institution under the Financial Institutions Act 1998.
He however, entered not guilty pleas on all charges.
Tauohu was arrested by police after receiving complaints from One Link mentors and customers who had not received their payments from the director as promised.
Allegation said that Tauohu obtained more than $400,000 from the six mentors between December 2019 and February 2020 and failed to pay them their promised interests.
He then allegedly escaped to Malaita and was arrested after police received complaints from the scheme’s mentors and customers who had invested in the scheme last year but are yet to receive their payments.
Jonathan Auga of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown while Ronald Dive represents the accused.
