18 Apr 2005

Former Solomons Finance Minister facing corruption charges

7:01 pm on 18 April 2005

Another Solomon Islands MP is facing serious criminal charges.

Former Finance Minister, Francis Zama, has been charged with official corruption and making a false statement without an oath.

The charges relate to the granting of exemptions for goods tax in March last year.

If convicted Mr Zama could be jailed for up to seven years.

He is one of four recent Cabinet Ministers now facing charges while another is serving a jail term.

The new police commissioner, Shane Castles, says the arrest of Mr Zama is another example of the fine cooperation between the Regional Assistance Mission's Participating Police Force and the Royal Solomon Islands Police.