FORMER PREMIER IN POLICE CUSTODY
Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 10 September 2019
“FORMER Guadalcanal premier Stephen Panga is in police custody after he was found guilty of abuse of office, last Friday.
“He has been remanded awaiting sentencing tomorrow.
“Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika in his judgment said Panga appeared to have fulfilled his intention to obtain $10,000 from a client.
“He said this was after Panga realised he would not succeed in getting the money he claimed as his entitlement if it was through official channels.
“If the claim was genuine, other executive members should benefit from such undertaking as well,” Seuika said.
“The prosecution’s case was that Panga abused his office as the Premier of Guadalcanal Provincial Government when he instructed an assistant revenue officer to prepare a receipt and obtain money from GP clients or customer.
“The money, the court has found, was used by Panga for his own personal gain.
“Panga in his defence however, said the payment of $10,000 was in respect of his entitlement for housing allowances,”
Copyright @ 2019, Solomon Star News.
