Honiara drops attempts to retrieve ministerial cars

08/02/2008 08:07:46

The Solomon Islands government has dropped legal action against six former ministers who have refused to return government vehicles since they were ousted from office last year.

The Solomon Islands High Court heard that the former ministers have now either joined government as chairmen of state owned enterprises or parliamentary committees and are entitled to vehicles.

But solicitor general Reginald Teatau told the court the government will still pursue legal action against four other former ministers who are yet to return their vehicles.

The outstanding vehicles are being kept by former deputy prime minister Patteson Oti, Bernard Giro, Patrick Vahoe and Charles Dausabea.

The Solicitor General singled out Mr Dausabea as being particularly evasive in not answering court summons, and avoiding police attempting to serve him the summons.

They were instead served on his lawyer Charles Ashley who appeared in court on Thursday.

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