Trial date pending for Taremae’s case

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court is yet to set the date for trial on the case against former Member of Parliament, Hypolite Taremae.

Appearing in court yesterday, defence lawyer Anderson Kesaka told the court that defence intends to call 52 witnesses in relation to the two charges against his client.

He said that they will cross examine all witnesses that is why they wanted to call all 52 witnesses.

Meanwhile Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi said that 52 witnesses on two charges is too much, and ordered that the list of witnesses be trimmed.

She said that prosecution should specify the issues relating to the two charges.

Ms Taeburi then grant another adjournment to allow the prosecution narrow down the issues and for both counsels to trim down the list of witnesses for the trial.

Taeburi said on the next occasion all issues should be sorted out and trial date should be set.

The case then was adjourned to September 25 for mention.

This is the case against the former MP who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a PTC has been set he was arrested for allegation of misappropriation of fund in 2011 and 2013.

The allegation said Mr Taremae has misappropriated more than $200,000 for reafforestation project for Central Makira Constituency.

He was arrested and charged with conversion late in May this year.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for crown while Anderson Kesaka is representing the accused.

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