Vanuatu convicted MPs given two weeks to appeal

Caption: Willie Jimmy wipes away a tear as he exits, head bowed, from the Supreme Court. Alone of the 15 MPs facing sentencing, Mr Jimmy's sentence of 20 months was suspended for two years. Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post

The Vanuatu government MPs given jail sentences for their roles in a corruption case have two weeks to appeal against their sentences.

Thirteen of the MPs have been sentenced to periods of imprisonment ranging from three to four years.

The Minister of Finance Willy Jimmy was among five ministers sentenced, and he received a 20 month prison term suspended for two years.

The MPs sentencing has automatically left their seats vacant in parliament.

As she delivered the sentences, Justice Mary Sey said breach of trust was an aggravating factor for the men who had been placed in positions of authority.

“With power and authority comes an obligation of trust. You betrayed that trust and in the cause of doing that you undermined the very institution that it was your duty to uphold.”

“The act of bribery needs to be weeded out in Vanuatu, and its penalties which you the members of parliament have passed in parliament must be enforced”.

“This case will set a precedent for future matters relating to bribery,” Justice Mary Sey said.

Willie Jimmy Tapangararua MP for Port Vila who pleaded guilty earlier, received a suspended sentence from imprisonment.

“However,” stated the Judge, “let this be a lesson and a reminder. That you are hereby warned that you are not going to jail today (Thursday), but any reoffending in the next two years will immediately resort in your having to serve this sentence of 20 months in imprisonment in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed for your reoffending,” said Justice Sey.

The first president of Vanuatu, Ati George Sokomanu, says the jail terms for more than a dozen government MPs convicted of corruption are a lesson for the country's leaders.

He was one of the framers of Vanuatu's Constitution and he says it was a sad day for Vanuatu and the families of the MPs.

“We need to look at the whole thing and as the President of the Republic said, he revoked that [the pardon] and said also that no-one was above the law and I think this is something that we in Vanuatu should remember, especially our leaders,” said Sokamanu.





   
Source:
PACNEWS