THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police and National Security Edmond Sikua is to appear in court again this morning on charges of official corruption.

His appearance today is to enable the Prosecution to inform the court on the specifics of bail variation that the defence lawyer is seeking for his client.

The application to vary the bail condition has come about because the accused was not suspended from his job as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police and National Security.

Defence lawyer Gabriel Suri made the application.

Permanent Secretary Sikua is charged with seven counts of official corruption.

In his previous appearance, the court heard the charges related to the awarding of Government tenders worth $630 436.50 to Beeds Investment, a company registered and owned by his two daughters.

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

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.

The Prosecution told the court then that as permanent secretary, Sikua is by default the chairman of his ministry’s tender board.

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

Sikua is the third public officer to have been arrested by Janus, a joint taskforce established to tackle official corruption.

Florence Joel of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution is representing the crown.