MEMBER of Parliament for Ulawa-Ugi and Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs, William Marau, has made a public apology to the people of his constituency over a traffic incident which landed him a fine of $5,000.

“I accept what has transpired does not speak well of my status as your political leader and a Chief of my tribe. I take this time to convey my sincere apologies for what had transpired.

“There is a saying that goes ‘to err ios human’.

“This means that as human beings we are prone to making mistakes.

“I have made a mistake and I take full ownership. I accept the law has rightfully taken its path,” he stated in a statement to this paper.

He said as the incident has transpired during this Lenten season he has comprehend the greater implications that the incident has on his personal and professional life as the political leader of Ulawa and Ugi islands.

“If there was any good that came out of this unfortunate experience, it is that I have grown and learned through personal reflection and soul-searching.

“As a fifth generation descent of the missionary who brought Christianity and evangelised Ulawa and Ugi Islands in 1877 and thereafter, I cannot but reflect on the legacy of this great leader which I did not uphold and maintain, and so I seek understanding and forgiveness.

“With these few words please accept my deepest and most sincere apology,” he said.

The Minister was fined $5,000 for the charge of presence of alcohol in a person’s body.

This is in relation to an offence committed on the night of March 4, 2017, when Kukum Traffic officers were conducting random breath test traffic checks along the Mendana Avenue Road in front of the Central Police Station.

Mr Marau was given a breathalyser test, and police found the level of alcohol concentration present in his blood was 0.145 percent which exceeded the permitted level of 0.49 percent.