The Magistrates’ Court has committed the case of Member of Parliament for Efate, Jessy Luo, to the Supreme Court.

After the prosecutions submission during preliminary inquiry yesterday afternoon, the magistrate court was satisfied that a prima facie case has been established against enabling his case to be committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

MP Luo is now scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court on 7 October, where he will enter his plea.

He faces a total of 6 charges as follows:

Charges

Obtaining a valuable thing by deception – contrary to section 130(b) of the Penal Code [Cap 135] (One count)

False statement – contrary to section 76 of the Penal Code [Cap 135] (Two counts)

Providing false and misleading information to a person – contrary to section 41 of the Civil Registration and Identity Act No. 28 of 2021 (One count)

Perjury – contrary to section 74(1), (2), (3)(a) and 75 of the Penal Code [Cap 135] (Two counts)

Failure to comply with and observe the law – contrary to section 13(1)(a) of the Leadership Code [Cap 61] (One count)

Failure to comply with and observe the fundamental principle of leadership contained in Article 66 of the Constitution – contrary to section 13(1)(b) of the Leadership Code [Cap 61] (Two counts)

Following the Court’s ruling, MP Luo was taken back into custody where he will remain until his next court appearance on 7 October.