A warrant of arrest has been issued for a Solomon Islands' minister after he failed to appear in court to face charges of conversion.
Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins
The Solomon Star newspaper reported a local magistrate issued the warrant on Friday after neither the Minister of Provincial Government David Tome nor his lawyer turned up to court to set a date for a pre-trial hearing.
Mr Tome is facing 14 charges of conversion in relation to nearly $US8645.43 intended for a tree planting project in his constituency.
Last month the same court waived some of Mr Tome's bail conditions to enable him to travel overseas for medical attention at the St Vincent Hospital in Australia.
Mr Tome's lawyer was apparently meant to inform the court that his client was still out of the country because he required further medical attention in Australia
But given this was not communicated to either the prosecution or the court a warrant of arrest was issued and the matter adjourned to September 18 for review.
