Former MJCA ACEO jailed

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The former Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration Sera Skelton, who pleaded guilty to one count of theft as a servant in relation to $20,000 of government monies that were misappropriated, has been sentenced to three years in jail.

Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke handed down sentencing last week.

As reported earlier, Defence lawyer Quentin Sauaga told Radio Polynesia that his client pleaded to one count of TAS, and all other 81 TAS charges were withdrawn.

Skelton was implicated back in 2018 over claims that she misappropriated public funds over $310,000 for personal use. The Public Service Commission charged her, and her contract as ACEO was eventually terminated in February 2019.

It is alleged that from 2015 to 2018, Skelton misused her position as A.C.E.O. to unlawfully acquire funds from three different accounts: the Civil Trust Account, Cashier Account, and Petty Cash belonging to the MJCA.