BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PROSECUTION has told court yesterday that police investigation into the case of Mildrin Oletabo is yet to be completed.

Public Prosecutor Rajah Abe said the accused, Mr Oletabo is charged with burglary of a dwelling house school-store.

And yesterday’s appearance is the first appearance of the case in court after he was remanded in custody on the previous occasion.

Mr Abe also said disclosures also are yet to be disclosed to the defence.

Meanwhile the accused said that he is yet to secure a lawyer to represent him in court.

Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to May 2 for completion of investigation and disclosures to be served.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi has committed the armed robbery case against Nelson Ausolo, Peter Kafa Eto and Patrick Talo to the High Court for trial.

The cases of another two accused in this incident are still awaiting preliminary issues in the Magistrate court.

The case of John Kiki and Solomon Wadili will be decided later after preliminary issues are sorted out in the Honiara Magistrates Court.

Ms Taeburi in her ruling said that there is sufficient evidence on the case and committed the case against the trio to the High Court for trial.

The trio will be called in High Court on April 27 for mention.

This is the case where five men were alleged to have involved in robbing the Bank South Pacific in Auki on November 27, 2015.

Prosecution has made an application at the Honiara Magistrate Court on the bank armed robbery cases to be committed to the High Court so that higher penalties can be imposed.

Police said the men were armed with dangerous weapons and one of them had a gun and fired a shot while standing outside the bank as lookout, the court was told; while other accused stayed in the getaway car.

Two others went into the bank and filled up bags with about SI$200,000 and US$10,000, the court heard.

The prosecution also said that another shot was fired before the accused left the bank.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

THE Honiara Central Magistrates Court has fined three men $500 each or in default 20 days imprisonment after being arrested and charged by police officers at the Honiara Central Police station on April 14, 2018 for allegedly consuming alcohol in a public place at Honiara Central Market.

The men were seen by police officers consuming what appeared to be mixed kwaso and soft drink in public.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “It is a crime to consume alcohol in public.

“There are certain public places which the public is allowed to consume alcohol including licensed clubs, hotel bars and any facility with a licence to buy and consume alcohol.

“The message to public is clear, go to the right place or area and consume your alcohol and you will not be arrested.

“I appeal to the good residents of Honiara and visitors into the city to help your police by reporting any alleged crime of similar nature to police.”

Honiara police can be contacted on phone numbers: 22999 (Honiara Central Police Station), 22044 (Market Police), 28999 (China Town Police), 22791/21363 (White River Police) and 39647 or 999 Toll free line (Police Communication Centre).

–POLICE MEDIA

THE Honiara Central Magistrates Court has fined a 25-year-old man for $300 or in default 20 days imprisonment after being arrested and charged by police officers from Honiara Central Police station on April 15, 2018 for allegedly stealing a plastic bag with valuable goods at the Honiara Central Market.

It is alleged the man stole a plastic bag from a 38- year-old female at the Central Market on April 14, 2018.

The female had bought parcels of cabbage, beans and heaps of eggplants which were kept inside the bag, and left the bag besides the market fencing while she went over to buy some more products.

When she returned to get the bag, it was not there.

Police also reports that bystanders saw the man took away the bag.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC)Honiara City Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “I wish to thank the witnesses who assisted with the police investigation which resulted in the man involved arrested, charged with one count simple larceny and brought before court on April 16, 2018.

“My message to the public, do not leave your goods without someone looking after them whenever you do shopping either in the markets or any shops in Honiara.

“I appeal to the good residents of Honiara and visitors into the city to help your police by reporting any alleged crime of similar nature.”

Honiara police can be contacted on phone numbers: 22999 (Honiara Central Police Station), 22044 (Market Police), 28999 (China Town Police), 22791/21363 (White River Police) and 39647 or 999 Toll free line (Police Communication Centre).

–POLICE MEDIA

By Gary Hatigeva

THE office of the Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) has denied claims made against them over what have been highlighted to be issues affecting students and the manner in which the issues were handled including the termination of eight students.

In a lengthy statement, the office of the Vice Chancellor outlined in point form, listing three issues highlighted by the students, which they completely denied and concluded with claims that the issues reported are a cover up from the students part to escape from what they described as, “mess created for themselves” (students).

The statement added that the SINU management finds the attitude of the group dubious and unreasonable in their demands and allegations.

It further added that the SINU Management also notice them keep changing their demands and allegations every time they go to the media.

“First, they question the PVCC’s authority in declaring their election null and void. When he explained to them the reasons, they came up with more allegations.

“Although this group of 8 students had called a strike and a boycott, their attempt was an absolute failure because no students or SINU staff joined the strike and the attendance of students during the last [two] weeks in all [five] schools and academic and non-academic staff have been 100 [percent],” the SINU statement claimed.

However, when contacted last night, the former SINUSA President, Reginald Ngati refuted the institute’s explanations and clarifications on the issues, stressing that the group stood by their claims against the management and that they (SINU Management) have been mishandling the matter all along.

With the statement highlighting the management’s views, claiming the illegitimacy of the student body’s executive, the terminated students however questioned and pointed out that the SINU management had failed to tell the public, what grounds their election as the executive was null and void.

“Just because we started talking out and digging into matters concerning the student body, the management decided we were illegal?”

Ngati also responded to the clarifications on the calls for dialogue, claiming that the SINU Management statement is actually the other way round.

“They actually refused to meet with us after arrangements were made by the Police for a combined meeting following two sets of separated meetings with the two parties,” Ngati further claimed.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

A five-day practice parliament session for women leaders who are interested in contesting for the upcoming national elections will be held from May 22-25, this year in Honiara.

This was revealed yesterday by Mrs Marisa Pepa, a Civic officer at the national parliament.

She said the purpose of hosting this activity is to advance women in political decision-making in terms of the very low representation of women at the national parliament.

“This forum will provide women with practical skills and exposure to the realities of policy-making and parliamentary processes and also an opportunity to practise at the highest legislative chambers.

“Learning form the last practice parliament for women in Solomon Islands, it would be ideal to target a total of 50 participants from diverse backgrounds and with a mix of young and older women,” said Pepa.

She explained the workshop targets women who are considering standing for the national and provincial elections and women who are community leaders, who wish to develop their leadership, advocacy and policy skills.

Also welcome are women who have commitment to support women and gender equality in terms of partnership with the national and local government bodies

Pepa adds, the session will be more on provincial representing, as well as including young women of all diversity.

She said application forms will be designed and distributed by the national partners through their networks as well as public calls through print media outlets, radio and targeted e-mail messages.

The forum is organised by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands in partnership with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

BUSINESS activities in Kolomola Village, Hograno district, Isabel province have been disturbed by telecommunication fault, it is reported.

Information reaching the paper says the fault has been going on for a month.

This has raised concerns among business entrepreneurs there whose business operations rely heavily on daily telecommunications service. Exports from the area is said to be among the worst hit.

Chief Gideon Kale from Kolomala Village said this matter needs to be addressed by responsible authorities.

“The telecommunication difficulty we are facing now has affected our daily business activities because there hasn’t any network coverage accessed by cell phones to simply relay of voice or data sender to receiver,” he said

Meanwhile, Mr Estermarh Teinody, a Buala Telekom staff said they have been aware of the matter and have reported it to the Our Telekom headquarter in Honiara.

He said the matter was considered, hence responsible officers from Honiara are expected to be in Isabel as of today.

Attempts to have comments from Our Telekom’s main office in Honiara were futile before the paper went to print last night.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

ONLY $500,000 has been allocated for the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) in the development budget.

While the focus will be on youths and possibly children, women will be the ones missing out on development activities from the national government.

Speaking to Island Sun, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the MWYCFA says for the development budget, there is zero allocation for women.

Dr Cedric Alependeva says the money allocated to them is very small thus only youths and children will be able to benefit in the development sector.

However, he says women can still be able to access funds in the recurrent budget in the form of grants.

Currently, women are fortunate to receive funding from development partners that had continued to assist them in their development needs.

“But should need arise, we can request funds from the contingency warrants.”

Alependava says this assurance had come from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). He says because of the limited finances available to MWYCFA, they have met with officials from PMO to raise their concerns which PMO have taken into consideration the issues raised.

In 2017, Island Sun understands $4million was allocated for MWYCFA in the development budget. However only 49 percent of the money was used.

Alependava says this is probably why SIDCCG has decided to lower the allocation in development for MWYCFA.

He says they have been reserving the other 51 percent of the money for development of infrastructure on an area which MWYCFA had earmarked but because of land issues, they had not been able to utilise the money when the financial year ends.

The Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) upon assuming office has made some strong emphasis on pursuing fiscal stability and micro-fiscal discipline in its year in office.

Five months into office, the first of the Ministries to receive the brunt of the SIDCCG’s axe is the MWYCFA.

For youths, Island Sun understands the Youth Division has committed itself to support a Youth Entrepreneurship Council (YEC) under the auspices of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), thus government is obliged to support the YEC through the promised grant.

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

UNDER the Guadalcanal provincial government and Canadian International Training and Education Corporation (CITREC) partnership, the largest pool of workers from the province so far are set to leave for Canada this year.

This is according to Deputy Premier, Peter Aoraunisaka who was amongst guest speakers on Tuesday at a brief occasion organised by the provincial government at the Maranatha hall to mark the academic success of their recent SINU graduates.

He said that under the programme, more students in the agriculture field have already signed their contracts and eight people are now working in Canada.

Mr Aoraunisaka said that their Chief Education officer has learned that four large corporations in Canada have through the CITREC chairman submitted applications to the government to hire Guadalcanal province CITREC graduates.

“This will propel Guadalcanal province graduates of CITREC programme to be employed in Canada under the labour mobility partnership. This creates the largest pool of workers that will be sent to Canada as part of our partnership. We are expecting around 50 workers by 2018,” he said.

Aoraunisaka furthered that two more student graduates are confirmed to leave for Canada as permanent resident nominees in June.