Honiara businessman, James Fangs, 48, has been arrested and is charged with one count of Forgery by the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF) fraud squad.

He was apprehended on Wednesday and yesterday appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

Police said the suspect was charged with one count of Forgery as codified in section 337 (3) (f) and Uttering section 343 (1) of the Solomon Islands Penal Code.

“The charges stem from an extensive enquiry into the legitimacy of a document emailed to the Inland Revenue Department. The document was a letter purporting to have been authored by a Minister of the Crown authorising the waiving of 14 million dollars of tax liabilities allegedly owed by the accused.

“Suspicions were raised as the letter had been emailed from the accused email address, was post-dated and on a closer examination it was discovered that the signature on the letter did not resemble that of the Minister,” police said in a statement.

Officer in Charge of the Fraud Squad highlighted pleasure with the work of his officers and thanked the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) for their assistance during the investigation.

Commissioner of RSIPF, Mr Matthew Varley acknowledges the efforts of the RSIPF Fraud Squad and the assistance of Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

“He was unable to comment further in respect to this individual offending as the matter was now sub judice, however he was pleased with the work of the RSIPF Fraud Squad and the Inland Revenue Department and stated that it was another example of two Government entities working together to stamp out corruption in Solomon Islands.”

Police say investigation continues on the matter.

Meanwhile, it is understood that the same individual had been charged previously in 2011 with three counts of tax evasion in which he was alleged to have failed to pay for a period of three years.

Public at China Town were stunned when police appeared in number on Wednesday during the time of the arrest.