Palm Is deputy returns to court

FORMER Palm Island Council deputy chief executive John Mugambi Mwamba and businessman Shane Paul Stratton have returned to court for their matters to be mentioned.

Stratton appeared by phone from Brisbane to the Townsville Magistrates Court before Magistrate Viviana Keegan on Wednesday.

Stratton, a former Reef Logistics operations manager, was charged with one count of corruptly give or offer valuable consideration to influence favour in relation to principal affairs or business.

His lawyer said there would be a charge substitution, with the replacement charge being corruptly receive or solicit valuable consideration as inducement or reward for any act to principal affairs or business.

Stratton was required to sign a fresh bail undertaking at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court.

The prosecution said the substitution charge referred to “secret commission offences” in the criminal code.

No evidence was offered on the initial charge, and it was discharged and substituted.

His matter will next be mentioned on October 13.

Mwamba was present in the court, and is facing more than 80 charges for offences allegedly committed between December 2016 and January 2019.

He also had a charge substituted for corruptly receive or solicit valuable consideration as inducement or reward for any act to principal affairs or business. Mwamba was ordered to sign a fresh bail undertaking, which held the same conditions.

Defence lawyer Darin Honchin said there was an application for the crossexamination of witnesses in Mwamba’s matter, and requested an adjournment to October 13.

Both Mwamba and Stratton have not entered pleas for the charges.