BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Solomon Motors Ltd has won its case against the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) over non-payment of outstanding debts.
The High Court ruled in favour of Solomon Motors Limited in its court case against the Attorney General, representing the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) on Wednesday this week following the hearing on August 29, 2025.
The court ordered that the Defendant (OPMC) shall pay the Claimant (Solomon Motors) the sum of $79,031.50.
Pursuant to Rule 17.65(a)(iii) of the Solomon Islands Courts (Civil Procedure Rules) 2007, interest shall accrue on this sum at the rate of 5 percent per annum, backdated to September 8, 2022, being the date on which the debt became due and the Defendant shall pay costs of these proceedings on a standard basis.
Both parties entered into a business agreement on November 29, 2019 for the supply of fuel and other motor vehicle-related services from the Claimant for the Defendant.
On January 14, 2021, then Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers wrote to the Claimant, advising of a revised list of vehicles for 2021 eligible to benefit under the agreement.
The court heard that the letter further stipulated that only those listed vehicles were permitted to be refueled under the agreement while unlisted vehicles and fuel containers could be refueled only upon written approval by either Mr Rodgers himself or then OPMC Human Resource Manager, Jackson Mewa in exceptional circumstances.
Between January 3 and April 19, 2022, the Claimant supplied $79,031.50 worth of fuel and related services to several unlisted vehicles upon the request of the OPMC with the exception of one fuel docket authorised and signed by Malcolm Foufaka on April 5, 2022 for fuel valued at $2,714.
Court found that all other fuel dockets during this period were signed by Mr Mewa in his capacity as the Human Resource Manager and were payable by the Defendant amounting to $79,031.50.
Solomon Motors had claimed $81,745.50 but court granted only $79,031.50. Court said the remaining $2,714, which was fuel taken under the docket signed by Foufaka, was outside of the agreement between Solomon Motors and OPMC, therefore cannot be claimed under the agreement.
On September 8, 2022, the Claimant submitted a statement to the OPMC requesting payment for the fuel supplied during the period from January 3 to April 19, 2022.
Despite the request, OPMC declined to settle the debt.
The refusal persisted even after the Claimant’s solicitor issued a formal letter urging the Defendant to pay the debt.
This non-payment ultimately led to the Solomon Motors seeking justice from the courts.
During trial the OPMC alleged that Mewa’s signature in the fuel dockets may have been forged, but did not provide evidence to support this claim.
Solomon Motors called two witnesses and the OPMC brought one witness. Interestingly, OPMC did not bring Mewa as a witness.
The court’s ruling also said the Defendant will bear the costs of the proceedings on a standard basis.
The claimant, Solomon Motors was represented by Ms L Ramo while P W Kelesi represented the Defendant on behalf of the Attorney General’s chambers.
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