Sikua refused bail
Former Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS) in the Solomon Islands Edmond Sikua has been refused bail last week in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court. Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi in her ruling last week said there are no exceptional circumstances in this case for her to grant him bail.
“This case is just the same as the other criminal cases that have come through the doors of this court,” Ms Taeburi said. Ms Taeburi therefore refused the application.
Sikua has the right to appeal her ruling within 14 days from yesterday. Sikua was convicted on November 12, 2018 on three counts of official corruption after a trial. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on November 16, 2018.
This was for approving works to be awarded and approving payments to be made to Beeds Investment, knowing that the company belongs to his two daughters on three occasions in 2015 and 2016. The court has found that the prisoner has discharged his official duties on account of his two daughters receiving financial benefits of $SBD$280,700 (FJ$72,236.15).
After tax deduction a total amount of $SBD258 (FJ$66.39), 847.50 (FJ$218.10) was paid to Beeds Investment.
The court heard that on November 14, 2018, he filed a petition of appeal in the High Court against the conviction.
Gabriel Suri, of Suri’s Law Practice who represents Sikua on 16 November 2018, filed an application pursuant to section 290 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) pending the outcome of the appeal.
He argued that his client should be granted bail for reasons that there is a likelihood of success of the appeal, there is likelihood of delay in hearing the appeal, and that Sikua gives an undertaking that he will not abscond and is ready to pay security cash bail.