10 Mar 2017

Solomon Islands court upholds suspension of top police official

4:55 pm on 10 March 2017

The suspension of the most senior most official in the Solomon Islands Ministry of Police has been upheld by the country's courts this week.

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Photo: 123RF

Edmond Sikua who is the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Police had challenged his suspension which came after corruption charges were laid against him by a Joint Corruption Taskforce set up by police and the Ministry of Finance last year.

But the newspaper the Solomon Star reported his suspension was ruled lawful by Chief Magistrate John Numapo this week.

Mr Sikua, a former assistant commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, faces seven counts of official corruption for allegedly awarding government tenders worth more than $US80,000 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his daughters.

His next court appearance is scheduled for 31 March.