Sokomanu
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Vanuatu
Sokomanu saved
Intervention by the Vanuatu President, Fred Timakata, saved South Pacific Commission secretary general Ati George Sokomanu from conviction by the Port Vila magistrate court.
Sokomanu, a former president of Vanuatu, has pleaded guilty to three charges of importing frozen food under the country’s Animal Importation and Quarantine Act.
The charges relate to the importation of 60 frozen chickens, fish and rawns from New Caledonia without import permits. Sokomanu was also charged for threatening and obstructing the principal veterinary officer, Mike Nicole, from performing his duty.
However, defence lawyer John Malcolm submitted that the head of state President Timakata had told him Sokomanu would be pardoned if convicted. Senior magistrate Lenalia then discharged Sokomanu using his discretion under the penal code. The SPG secretary general was however ordered to pay prosecution costs of US$2OO