In a closely contested election, Willie Bradford Marau has clinched victory for the third consecutive time, reaffirming his position as the Member of Parliament for the Ulawa/Ugi Constituency in the Makira Ulawa province.
Marau emerged victorious among nine candidates vying for the Ulawa/Ugi Constituency seat, with the Electoral Commission formally declaring his re-election following the conclusion of the vote counting process.
He polled 1,162 votes, beating his runner-up Stephen Maesiola by 223 votes. Maesiola, who resigned as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to contest the elections, polled 939 votes.
Preparation of ballot boxes from Ulawa Ugi Constituency for counting.| Credits: Charley Piringi
However, Marau’s political triumph comes amidst ongoing legal turmoil.
Last January, police arrested and charged Marau, alleging that he unlawfully diverted $5 million, intended by the national government for the purchase of a ship for his constituency in 2016, into his personal accounts.
Despite being released on strict bail conditions, Marau faces serious allegations of financial misconduct.
The police’s investigation revealed a complex series of transactions involving Marau’s personal and business accounts, prompting charges of conversion under section 278 (1) (c) (i) of the Penal Code.
In January following his arrest, Marau told In-depth Solomons that he remains innocent until proven guilty by a court.
“This is a normal police procedure,” he said, adding that he would not be making further comments since the matter is now before the courts.
However, Marau pointed out that it was from the shipping grant he received that he used to purchase LC Lokoiola, which is currently serving Ulawa-Ugi constituency and other parts of Makira-Ulawa Province.
Marau first entered parliament on 19th November 2014 after working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for a few years.
He was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industries Labour and Immigration from 15th December 2014 to 28th October 2015. He was then given the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs portfolio from 28th October 2015 to 4th August 2017.
In the 2019 national elections, he was re-election for his second term.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare offered him the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Survey (MLHS) portfolio where he served for a year before he was sacked in 2020, but remained a government back-bencher.
Marau’s political journey has been marked by both achievements and controversies.
Initially entering parliament in November 2014 after a stint in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Marau swiftly ascended to ministerial positions, serving as Minister of Commerce, Industries Labour and Immigration, followed by Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
In the 2019 national elections, Marau secured his second term.
Despite being offered the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Survey (MLHS) portfolio by Prime Minister Sogavare, Marau was subsequently dismissed in 2020, relegating him to the role of a government backbencher.
Marau’s re-election underscores the complexities and controversies inherent in Solomon Islands politics, where electoral victories often intersect with legal battles and allegations of financial impropriety.
As he embarks on his third term as MP, Marau faces the daunting task of balancing political responsibilities with the demands of an ongoing legal case.