Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
A former teacher in Solomon Islands, who had a large sum mistakenly deposited into their account, has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment for spending some of the money.
In a statement, local police say the simple larceny conviction relates to a mistaken government payroll payment of SBD$3.8 million (approximately US$467,000) made in December 2017.
The mistake remained undetected for eight months.
In that time the individual, who has not been named, had transferred and spent SBD$1.3 million (approximeately US$160,000) of the money.
Commenting on the sentence handed down at the Honiara Magistrates Court this month, acting commissioner of police Mathias Lenialu said public funds belonged to the people of Solomon Islands.
"Any misuse of these funds is a betrayal of trust and will not be tolerated," he said.
In what the police called a "landmark ruling", principal magistrate Emily Pakoa rejected the notion that the defendant was unaware they were not entitled to the funds.
"There was no second thought, but intentional decision making, and a fraudulent one that occurred over a period of seven months," the judge said.
"To say that the failure to report the incident was owing to the fact that the defendant does not know anyone from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, is the lamest excuse ever given."
Photo: Supplied
In response to the case, the Accountant General confirmed that the payroll team at the ministry had strengthened its pay-run checking processes.
Emily Pakoa was critical of the government in her ruling, and said it should share the blame with the defendant.
"The essence of putting compliance procedures in place to raise red flags as soon as errors were committed had obviously escaped the attention of (the ministry)," the judgement said.
"This case serves as a reminder that riches cannot be gained overnight, but rather through hard work and unbearable sacrifices."
