POLICE officers in Guadalcanal province have arrested a 40-year-old male following a fatal   traffic accident which claimed the life of a four-year-old male child at Komabulu Village, in the Reko area of North East Guadalcanal on Monday this week, October 1, 2018.

Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Tetere Police Station, Inspector Hughes Nevol says, “It is alleged that the four-year-old was walking on the road side between 6 to 7pm when the vehicle hit him.

“The suspect seeing what happened drove straight to the Tetere Police Station and surrendered himself to police.

“He was breath tested for presence of alcohol and was found positive for presence of alcohol in person’s blood and was later placed in police custody.

“Investigation into the matter has begun and I call anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and assist Police in their investigations.

“I want to call on the people of Komabulu to allow police to carry out investigations into the matter and not to take the law into their own hands.

“I would also like to remind vehicle drivers travelling to and from North East Guadalcanal, that as our road is now nearing completion and the conditions are good, I urge you all to think safety first. Do not drink and drive. Be responsible for your actions,” says Inspector Nevol.

–POLICE MEDIA

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Public Prosecutor will today update the court on the status of investigations into the Bellona murder incident.

This is the case against Kravis Tamaika who is alleged of having injured four victims and killing the fifth, who was a female child, on August 17 this year.

On the previous occasion Prosecutor Patricia Tabepuda who appeared for the office of the Director Public Prosecution said investigation is still ongoing and police investigators are yet to go over to Bellona to complete the investigation.

She said that two other victims are currently hospitalised at the National Referral Hospital and thus police are yet to get their statements.

This is the case where police investigates a suspected mentally ill male person who allegedly attacked the young girl at Nukumanu Village in West Bellona. It is reported that she died instantly.

The allegation said three other male persons and a female have been allegedly attacked by the same suspect and were reported to be in serious conditions.

The suspect was arrested and brought over to Honiara and charged with murder and other offences.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

The man who was charged for having pushed another man down the slope at the Skyline area on August 27, 2016 has been sentenced to three and half years on Tuesday.

The accused, Allen Owen, was charged with one count of grievous harm and convicted after a trial.

The sentence was delivered by Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea on behalf of his colleague Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga.

The court said that for people to take law into their own hands is not a good way to resolve problems, there are avenues parties can engage to resolve their differences.

But on this case the accused has taken law into his own hands which led him into another trouble.

The court said considering the report made by the medical doctor (Dr Stephen Kodovaru) who examined the victim gave evidence on oath that the victim was x-rayed. He discovered that his right tibia bone that extended to his knee was broken. Being concerned for his blood vessels because of the swelling to his leg, he then inserted external fixtures/antenna/braces to support his broken leg. He was kept under close observation for about a month in the hospital. The reason for that long admission was for insertion of internal fixation of his right leg.

Due to the seriousness of the offence the court sees it fit that a sentence of three and half years in jail is appropriate on the case and the time spent in custody to be taken into account.

The court also remind the accused and also a message for the people not to involve in unlawful activities, taking law into ones hands can always lead to another problem therefore think before involve in such unlawful behaviour.

This is the incident occurred on August 27 2016, where the victim, Joe Frazer Pitamama and his wife went to Girl-guard area near the NPF Plaza. Whilst at Girl-guard, his father called his wife through mobile and advised her that if they return home, they should not drop at Skyline because some people from Shortland wanted to kill the victim. About 4:00pm of that day, they returned but dropped at Skyline.

After they got out from the bus, the victim went to pay cigarette whilst his wife was waiting for him at the roadside. That was the same side of the road that the US memorial was built. It was at that point that the defendant approached the victim and met him at the top of a slope.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court was informed on Tuesday that investigation into the fatal accident on September 15 which resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl is yet to be completed.

Public Prosecutor Freliz Fakari said that part of the evidence was already received from investigators with only few statements left to be collected from witnesses.

Ms Fakari said investigators were unable to locate the witnesses and thus some statements are still outstanding.

Meanwhile the defence lawyer representing the accused is seeking disclosures from the prosecution so that they can obtain instructions from the accused.

This is the case against a 26-year-old woman from Isabel, Veslyn Ririana, who police alleged had caused death by reckless driving on a 15-year-old girl on the night of September 15.

She is facing three charges in relation to traffic offences.

The allegation said Ms Ririana on the night of September 15 was driving a motor vehicle along the Mendana Avenue in the westerly direction when the incident occurred.

Police said the motor vehicle was allegedly approaching the HCC roundabout at high speed when the vehicle went off the road and allegedly hit the deceased who was walking in an easterly direction on the road near the Solomon Water office.

Police attended to the fatal accident and assisted the victim to the National Referral Hospital. She was later pronounced dead by medical authorities.

The suspect was transported to the Central Police Station and formally arrested for causing death by reckless and dangerous driving under the Traffic Act.

Ririana also was given a Random Breath Test (RBT) and shows that her alcohol blood reading was 0.184 percent well above the legal rate of 0.050 percent.

The accused was also arrested for driving an unlicensed motor vehicle which expired on June 30, 2018 and driving without a driver’s licence.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to October 9, prosecution to follow on the outstanding statements and file to the defence lawyer during the adjournment.

By Alfred Sasako

PROPOSED legislations on traditional governance and customary land reforms are expected to take centre stage at a major Land Summit being held in Auki later this month.

A team consisting of some of the nation’s top lawyers are being invited to give their views on the proposed legislations – the Draft Traditional Governance and Facilitation Bill and Customary Land Laws Reform Bill.

Subject to their acceptance, top lawyers Francis Waleanesia, Martin Haurii, Willy Hiuare and Watson Puiahi. Mr Waleanisia, the Legal Consultant to the Traditional Governance and Facilitation Bill, could be in Auki to address the first session on the opening day.

Legal Consultants Mr Haurii and Mr Hiuare are expected to address the second session by providing a Legal Analysis and Treatment of the Late Andrew Nori’s Land Law reform Report.

Mr Hiuare is expected to deliver a 40-minute paper on the Solomon Islands Customary Land Commission Bill. He is also expected to speak on the Land Trust Board Bill.

Land issues associated with lack of development on Malaita will be covered in the dicussion.

Foreign law on land alienation and dispossession “remain as fundamental causes for land disputes, disunity and corruptions in Solomon Islands,” an excerpt from one of the papers said.

“This country must fix these fundamental causes and details of fixing the laws of alienation and dispossession of customary land …,” the paper said.

The Traditional Governance and Facilitation bill aims at re-enforcing the existing work of the chiefs, tribes and individuals as the engine room of the customary land tenure system.

“Such work also involves innovations for social and cultural inclusivity, tolerance, respect and working for peaceful co-existence in Solomon Islands. This is a space for the indigenous people of Solomon Islands with innovations can blend old and modern governance systems in the country, the paper said.

On the other hand, the Solomon Islands Customary Land Commission Bill is intended to act as the powerhouse to confirm group title to customary land ownership and land boundaries set by chiefs and tribal owners under the Traditional Governance and Facilitation bill.

“This group title is not for commercial dealings, rather it is the mother group title that anchors and protects the land, people and their leadership based on their customary land tenure system.

“The Registry set up by the Commission would be the custodian and guardian for people’s records and information for the future developments. This Bill provides the space for the indigenous people to restore home-grown principles and practices of security, protection, participation and good governance in Solomon Islands.

“Because of the dispossession of the indigenous people and their customary land tenure system, the present Government believes in the interventions of the Traditional Governance and Facilitation Bill and Customary Land Laws Reform Bills.”