Minister of Communication and Aviation (MCA), Fredrick Kologeto, is finally addressing a report on alleged fraudulent spending by the head of the Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI), Calvin Ziru.
Kologeto had been sitting on the report for the past seven months since it was submitted to him in June 2024. The report accuses Ziru of illegally spending more than SBD$1 million of TCSI funds.
A day after In-depth Solomons exposed Kologeto’s inaction last Wednesday, the minister, realising the hostile public reaction the news release had generated, acted swiftly by meeting with TCSI’s Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) on Friday.
“…yes, the minister met members of TEC last Friday following your publication,” a source from the Ministry of Communication and Aviation told In-depth Solomons.
“I’m not sure about the outcome of the meeting, but this is the beginning of the disciplinary process,” the source added.
In-depth Solomons sent an email to the minister’s office via the Government’s Communication Unit last Friday requesting comments but has yet to receive an official response.
TCSI, established under the Telecommunications Act (2009), is an independent expert statutory authority responsible for the economic and technical management of the telecommunications sector in the Solomon Islands.
According to the Act, allegations such as those raised against Ziru must be investigated by an independent and impartial person.
The disciplinary process begins with the minister convening a TEC meeting and informing both the TEC and the Commissioner of his consideration to suspend or remove the Commissioner due to the allegations.
The TEC then appoints an independent investigator to review the allegations.
Based on the findings, the TEC advises the minister on whether to remove or retain the Commissioner.
It is this process that Kologeto has been delaying for the past seven months—until last Friday.
Allegations Against Ziru
Ziru, a lawyer by profession, has served as Commissioner of TCSI since 2021. As head of the organization, he has the authority to request or authorize payments from TCSI funds.
The report reveals that between 2021 and 2023, Ziru engaged in spending that baffled the TEC to request for a report of the spending, which was later shared with the MCA.
The allegations against Ziru include:
- Awarding two contracts without a tender process, totlaling SBD$340,000, to two Fijian men.
- Spending SBD$207,000 of TCSI funds on medical bills he was not entitled to.
- Paying out SBD$250,200 of TCSI funds to his boxing club and for other promotional activities.
- Using up to SBD$98,532 of TCSI funds for private family trips.
- Spending SBD$30,000 of TCSI funds on hosting events without providing any supporting evidence.
- Paying SBD$66,798 for a hotel invoice covering accommodation, meals, and events unrelated to TCSI.
- Taking salary advances totalling more than SBD$141,000 with no indication of repayment.
- Purchasing a private portable sawmill for SBD$150,000.
- Turning up in office only once a week—and only when he needs to attend stakeholder meetings or in need of money.
- 10.Garaging two of TCSI’s three vehicles.
When In-depth Solomons contacted Ziru for comment, he declined, stating that he preferred to let the formal process take place before responding.