CASE against suspended permanent secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services will again be mentioned in the Honiara Magistrate today.

This is for the prosecution to respond to the submission made by the Defence on previous occasion.

PS Edmond Sikua is charged with seven counts of official corruption.

This is in relation to awarding Government tenders worth $630,436.50 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.

Prosecution alleged that as Permanent Secretary, Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.

It was alleged that between December 18, 2015 and August 29, 2016, Beeds Investments responded to calls for tenders and been awarded business contracts for service delivery to the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services on seven different occasions.

The Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services have made payments of $630,436.50 to Beeds Investments for these services.

Prosecution further alleged that Sikua used his position of power and influence within the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services to manipulate the tendering process for his own and his family’s pecuniary advantage.

Sikua is the third public officer to have been arrested by Janus since the establishment of the joint taskforce in August last year.

Florence Joel of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.