Senior Agriculture officer arrested in latest Janus catch

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley

Task Force Janus led by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, RSIPF, has made another arrest, this time a senior public servant from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley told local journalists at his weekly media conference in Honiara today.

Commissioner Varley confirmed, Janus task force officers arrested, questioned and charged the 45-year-old person on Tuesday this week for official corruption.

“Task Force Janus officers arrested and interviewed a 45-year-old man who is a public servant at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and charged him in relation to an offence of official corruption contrary to Section 91 (b) of the Solomon Islands Penal Code,”he said.

“He was interviewed by Police and remained in custody overnight at the Central Police Station before he appeared at the Honiara Magistrates Court on the 29th of August where he was imposed with strict bail conditions.”

While the matter is now before the court, Commissioner Varley said the male person was charged for an alleged bribery during an audit.

“The matter is obviously before the court and has been referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as well and there is some limitations on what I can say in relation to the allegations in the case,” he said.

“However, what is on the record and what the public servant has been charged with is an offence of official corruption and Police are alleging that that relates to the alleged payment or attempted payment of a bribe to another official from the Ministry of Finance during an audit.”

The person will appear in Court on September 12.

SIBC News understands, the senior public servant will be named once convicted.

By: Rickson Bau.

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