Ila’ava charges struck out

By Alice Osii
A COURT has cleared former Department of Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Dr Vele Pat Ila’ava of the 29 counts of misappropriation, official corruption, dishonest application and abuse of office he was facing.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Mekeo Gauli ruled that police did not provide enough evidence to substantiate the charges against Ila’ava.
He was facing nine counts of misappropriation, nine counts of official corruption-dishonest application, and 11 counts of abuse of office.
Magistrate Gauli granted the application by defence lawyer Lubia Evore, of Jema Lawyers, to strike out all the allegations against Ila’ava because there was no evidence.
He, however, pointed out that the court did not have powers to dismiss criminal cases nor award costs.
Magistrate Gauli ruled that all the charges against Ila’ava be struck out and the bail money of K2000, plus the surety fees by his guarantors be refunded.
Outside court, Ila’ava said his reputation was tarnished because of the criminal allegations against him.
Ila’ava said he was just doing his job as a department secretary to serve the best interest of the department when the allegations arose.
Police alleged that between Feb 6, 2012, and Nov 13, 2012, when Ila’ava was appointed the department secretary, he terminated the security service of a company and engaged another firm. The matter was questioned by a department employee.
Police after an investigation alleged that Ila’ava had authorised nine payments to the new firm which they claimed were illegal.