The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has cleared the air over allegations that former Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei was involved in the corrupt award of lucrative printing contracts to a British company.
SFO yesterday sent an e-mail in response to an inquiry by an individual who sought anonymity, stating that Mrs Shollei (above) had not been named in the indictment as a co-conspirator.
The e-mail seen by The Standard and sent by SFO's Press and Communications Officer Nilima Fox reiterated that Shollei only features in their evidence having been an official at the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) at the time. "Shollei is not named in our indictment as a co-conspirator although she does feature in our evidence as an official at the IIEC at the relevant time. We are not able to disclose any further information for legal reasons while the trial is ongoing," Mr Fox said.
Fox said SFO is about halfway through with main prosecution witness Edwin Harvey and are hoping to finish the case by the end of this week or possibly beginning of next week. "The jury is likely to go out during the second week of December but this is all subject to change and I would check in nearer the time," Fox said.
When contacted for comment on the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy statement, Shollei expressed her concern that it was false, misleading and defamatory. She said she is in the process of consulting her lawyers as to what action to take against those peddling the falsehood.
Fox also sent a statement and particulars of offence stating: "Christopher Smith, Nicholas Smith and Smith and Ouzman Limited between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010, with Trevy James Oyombra, corruptly agreed to make payments to officials employed at IIEC, as an inducement or reward for showing favour to Smith & Ouzman Limited in relation to the award of and payment for contracts to print materials for the commission."
