Minister convicted and seeks court’s favour on driving licence

MINISTER of Justice and Legal Affairs William Marau has pleaded guilty to one count of traffic offence and will be sentenced on March 29.

He is facing a charge of high presence of alcohol in his blood under the amended transport legislation.

Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga yesterday questioned the Minister saying whether he was there in Parliament when the Parliamentarians passed the Bill on the amended traffic legislation.

The Minister in response smiled, nodded his head and said yes in court.

Minister Marau told the court that he accepts whatever penalty the court will impose on him but begged court if his driving licence be kept since as a Minister he is entitled to drive his vehicle.

He also told the court that he is very sorry for his actions and being a national leader no body is above the law.

Meanwhile Police Prosecution submitted to the court that the maximum penalty drink driving is $10,000.

Prosecutor Ambrose Motui also submitted that the Minister had three previous convictions in relation to offences committed in 2009.

The court then adjourns the case to Wednesday this week for sentencing.

Marau was charged after police conducted a Random Breathalyzer Test (RBT) on him on March 4, 2017, in front of the Central Police Station.

Police stopped him in a RAV4 vehicle he was driving and conducted the first test where they found positive with a reading of 0.145 percent.

He was taken to the Central Police Station where a second test was conducted, which resulted in a reading of 0.132 percent.

Since the readings were both positive, police charged Marau and have him bailed to appear in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.

Police Prosecutor Ambrose Motui appears for the Police Prosecution.