The premier of Makira Ulawa Province in Solomon Islands, John Stephenson Piringisau, has been jailed for 18 months for false pretence.
In delivering his verdict at the Central Magistrates Court in Honiara, Justice Wilson said the community expected their duly elected representatives to act honestly and properly.
It follows weeks of political turmoil for the Makira Provincial Government with the axing of provincial ministers by the speaker.
The Solomon Star reports that just last week, the speaker fired his deputy.
In retaliation, the deputy speaker teamed up with the rest of the assembly and threw the speaker out from his seat.
The deputy speaker claimed last week that he's now the legitimate speaker of the province.
Meanwhile, Malaita provincial member for ward one Richard Irosaea Na'amo has been duly elected as premier for Malaita Province.
The Government Communications Unit said Mr Na'amo beat his only rival Ben Foukona by 25 votes in the 33-member assembly.
