THE defence lawyer representing Iki Olomea has seek further adjournment on the case to allow him make representation to the prosecution.
Daniel Kwalai of the Public Solicitor’s told the court yesterday that he has just been allocated with the file and intended to write to the prosecution in regards to the charges against his client.
Meanwhile Clifton Ruele who represents one of the accused informed the court that his client Simon Fiusiale is ready to take his plea as instruction has obtained from the client.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then grants the adjournment and adjourned the case to March 26.
This is in relation to the incident that occurred at Malaita in July last year where five men were in relation to possession of firearm.
Simon Fiusale and Iki Olomea were charged together with three other accused that are currently under warrant of arrest.
They were charged for possession of fire-arm and threatening violence.
Three other accused men currently under warrant are Leonard Ofaka, Bredley Abarai and Jimmy Eno Bana and they are jointly charged with other two of one count of possession of firearm and threatening violence each.
Police said that the men were drunk and threatened the employees of Dalgro Construction Company that won the bid for Bridge Construction at the Tabaa Bridge in North Malaita on July 21 2016.
It was alleged that one of the men who held the gun which is a 303 rifle black in colour put in a bullet and then cocked the gun pointing it at the workers.
Police also seized the alleged weapon believed to be used by the accused.
A man alleged of transferring money from his uncle’s bank account to another account will appear again in court on March 19.
Yesterday, prosecution withdrew some of the charges against the accused leaving them with 22 to proceed with.
A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office Leonard Chite confirmed in court that the case was represented by one his colleagues and said he has no proper instruction on the case.
Therefore he sought an adjournment so that the lawyer in carriage can assist the court on the case.
Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then adjourned the case for March 19 to allow the accused to see his lawyer for instructions on the charges, and a possible plea will be entered on the next occasion.
This is in relation to the matter against Don Lisi Talu of Isabel who is alleged to have transferred the bank credit from the victim’s account to his friend’s accounts and withdrew the money for him.
Police further alleged he used the proceeds for his personal use.
The alleged incident occurred on several occasions between December 16, 2014 and January 23, 2015 after he left the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands.
Police alleged to have got hold of two Bank of South Pacific (BSP) cheques which claimed he found them at a Vura 1 home, Honiara.
Police also alleged that though the cheques have the names of the victim the accused never return them to the victim but cashed it at the BSP.
It was alleged that on 11 occasions he continue to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account by forging the signature and name.
He allegedly lied to the Bank Tellers that the account was ceased and then applied for mobile banking to be connected to the account of the victim.
Police then alleged that on 11 occasions after he got connected to the mobile banking service, he made mobile credit top up to his own mobile and to other mobile phones.
He also allegedly transferred bank credit from the victim’s account to nine different BSP accounts owned by other people on 10 different occasions.
Police further alleged that when he met people in town he would ask them to transfer money to their accounts, by saying that he forgot or lost his Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).
Margaret Suifaasia of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the state.
THE Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Association (SIMSA) plans to introduce a maritime sexual harassment policy through its constitution.
SIMSA’s director Captain Tim Harris said having this policy will make the maritime industry in the country safe especially for women to venture into this profession, because plans to be inclusive is underway as well.
Mr Harris explained that this is to construct ways and means to be able to bring complaints to the system regarding sexual harassment issues and to make this industry attractive to Solomon Islands females.
He said that seafarers have been a good profession for Solomon Islands’ women because ships travel daily from island to island during ship voyage which is safe for women seafarers.
“But we got to be careful because different situations took place at times hence the putting together of this policy is planned,” Harris said.
He adds, plans for this policy had been done before but was not pursued to fruition.
THE population served by Solomon Water in Honiara and surrounding villages is projected to increase to approximately 295,000 people by 2047.
Solomon Water currently provides water services to 58,000 people in Honiara and surrounding areas in Guadalcanal according to their 30 Year Strategic Plan.
The increase is reported to be driven primarily by migration of people from rural communities to urban areas and the provision of backlog services to existing communities.
Projected population increase over the next 30 years will have a significant impact on current water supply and wastewater systems including increased health, environmental and water quality impacts of wastewater discharge, the need for additional water sources due to increased water supply demand and the need to extend reticulation systems and improve the capacity of transfer systems.
HONIARA City Council (HCC) is planning on running a school bus service in partnership with a local businessman for students in Honiara.
HCC initiated this idea as a response to years of observation that students turn up late to classes because of public transport difficulties.
Thus HCC is in talks with a prominent local businessman for a bus service for students.
Talks are in the pipeline, and Island Sun understands the businessman will purchase few big buses to run 7-8am and 3-4pm routines.
At this stage HCC is withholding the businessman’s identity, but will let public know in due course.
However, HCC says they will monitor the arrangement – if the businessman fails to successfully run the service then the council will step in and take over.
Chairman of the Taskforce responsible for transportation service, Mr Eddie Ngava said “For the School bus, we already discussed with a local private businessman to run services for Students with few big buses ordered oversea and we are waiting for it to eventuate before HCC can do anything further.
“We want to address issue affecting children and youths, it’s a serious concern which HCC considered it seriously.
“If the local businessman unable to come forward we will look at other ways to service the students especially secondary sector, and If we happen to take-on that responsibility maybe we will run bus service from 7am—8am and maybe 3pm—4pm.”
HCC is currently waiting on the businessman to return with his side of the bargain before the idea can be implemented.
PRIME MINISTER Ricky Houenipwela may have been set up to apologise for Solomon Islands’ position on the West Papua issue at the recent Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.
The Opposition yesterday capitalised on the apology, trapping the Prime Minister on the floor of Parliament during Question Time.
Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was of little help to his boss. He told Parliament yesterday that the Prime Minister’s attendance at the recent MSG was to pass on the baton, not to apologise.
According to Members of Parliament, the matter has driven an apparent wedge between Prime Minister Houenipwela and his Deputy.
“As everyone knows, prime minister(s) do not go speaking on international issues on their own. Whatever they say is usually based on advice they received from officials,” they said.
In Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister was said to be alone in defending his position.
“His Deputy was speaking the same language as the Opposition. The Prime Minister was clearly on his own,” they said.
Others say it is time Prime Minister Houenipwela put his foot down to show everyone who is in charge.
“He should now remove those officials who failed him in providing informed advice on the West Papua issue,” some suggested.
During Mr Sogavare’s term as Prime Minister and Chairman of the MSG, three staff including a Tongan based in Vanuatu were engaged to work full time on the West Papua issue.
It is not clear whether these staff are still on deck.
MARKET Management of the Honiara City Council (HCC) has no control over pricing of crops sold by venders at the central market.
HCC only deals with daily collection of market fees, and ensures environment around the market is conducive and inclusive to users.
HCC Market Master, Mr Jimmy Hanson Riunga reveals this, adding that price hikes result from venders who pay crops from farmers and resell them at the market.
“That is why they put such prices, and for HCC to control their prices is not under any ordinance that clearly spell out that area,” Mr Riunga said.
When asked if HCC have plans in place to address the issue, Riunga said currently there are no discussions or clear direction of information.
He said if given control over price control it would create discriminatory among venders, and will not meet HCC’s vision for market to provide inclusive space for all.
HCC Deputy Clerk Mr Fred Jones also admits the council’s limitation regarding control of prices at the main market.
Price control over crops at the central market depends on venders, he adds.
The Chairman of the Taskforce Mr Eddie Ngava said they are aware many bus still running short route from SDA to Naha route
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
HONIARA City Council (HCC) law on dark tinted vehicle windows is for public transport vehicles only and not privately owned ones, says the HCC taskforce responsible for transportation service.
Taskforce chairman Hon Eddie Ngava made the clarification in an exclusive interview with Island Sun yesterday, saying HCC is only interested in licensed public transport running services within Honiara boundary – not private vehicles.
He said private vehicles come under the national government’s mandate because they pay tax to the Inland Revenue.
“We did not have much say on private vehicle but our interest is only public transportation service vehicles because they pay business license with HCC.”
He adds the issue of public transport with heavy tinted windows has been a concern for a long time.
“So council thinks it’s right time to do it because we issue them license and run the service for public, and there must be no dark tinted vehicle on public transportations.”
Mr Ngava said the whole idea behind banning of dark tinted windows is the safety of the travelling passengers using the public transport.
For buses that run services outside of Honiara boundary, Ngava says it is in the hands of the Guadalcanal province.
“But if they issue licence to enter city they must not be tinted dark, so it best to remove tint although you run out of town boundary,” he said.
Ni-Vanuatu international and Warriors defender Jason Thomas.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
NI-VANUATU import and defender Jason Thomas will join Solomon Warriors this afternoon.
Warriors head coach Moses Toata confirmed to SunSPORTS last night.
Toata said Thomas will arrive in the country today from Port Vila to join his team ahead of the Telekom S-League (TSL) championship series and to begin preparation for next month’s Oceania Champions League quarterfinal.
The TSL championship series will begin this weekend.
Thomas is an integral member of the Warriors line-up since the start of the season playing as a centre back.
Due to visa setback however, he was unfortunate to be part of the Warriors campaign in the Oceania Champions League group competition held in Tahiti last month although being one of the players initially named in the roster.
Being one of the hottest defenders in Oceania at the moment, 20-year-old Thomas had starred for Vanuatu in the last FIFA Under-20 World Cup and was part of the gold medal-winning side in the Pacific Mini Games held in Port Vila last December.
Toata said Thomas is one of their vital assets and they are pleased to welcome him back.
“Thomas will join us today for the preparation toward the Oceania Champions League quarterfinal next month and the TSL Championship series that will begin this weekend.”
The arrival of Thomas will bring number of foreigners playing for Warriors to three. The other two are fellow Ni-Vanuatu players namely John Alick and Kensi Tangis.
Meanwhile, Warriors will use the upcoming domestic championship series as part of their preparation toward the Oceania Champions League last-eight encounter against Auckland City on April 8 at Kiwitea Street.
The Solomon Warriors lineup in the Oceania Champions League group match against AS Lossi of New Caledonia last month.
Warriors meet Auckland while Marist takes on Nalkutan in Oceania Champions League quarter
BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE Oceania Champions League quarterfinal fixtures were made known yesterday.
The draws were held at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Secretariat in Auckland, New Zealand.
Quarterfinal matches are to be played on the weekend of April 7 and 8 on four venues across the region.
After the completion of the group stage competition matches on Saturday, the four pool winners namely Nalkutan (Pool A), AS Dragon (Pool B), Auckland City (Pool C) and Team Wellington (Pool D) will host the last eight matches.
The draws also outlined the pathway for the semi and the grandfinal.
The draws revealed that Solomon warriors who finished second in Pool B will face Group C winner Auckland City at Kiwitea Street on April 8 in the third quarterfinal while Marist who is the runner up of Group D will take on Group A winner Nalkutan of Vanuatu in the second quarterfinal.
The Solomon Warriors lineup in the Oceania Champions League group match against AS Lossi of New Caledonia last month.
The Melanesian affair encounter between Marist and Nalkutan will take place at the Korman Stadium on April 7.
Group A runner up Lae City Dwellers of Papua New Guinea found themselves against Team Wellington of New Zealand in the first quarterfinal April 7 while the fourth quarterfinal is between Lautoka and AS Dragon.
Adding intrigue to this year’s competition for fans is the semi-final and final.
After two years of the same four semi-finalists and three editions of Auckland City and Team Wellington in the final, today’s draw, and the earlier elimination of AS Magenta of New Caledonia, ensured this won’t be the case in 2018.
One of the semi-finals will feature the winners of quarter finals one and two – the two which feature the New Zealand teams. Meaning should they beat their respective opponents in the one-off quarter final matches at home, they would then meet in the semi-finals.
The other semi-final will feature the winners of the match between Dragon and Lautoka, and Nalkutan and Marist.
Marist FC line-up during one of the matches in the group stage of the Oceania Champions League last week at Lawson Tama.
Finally, the winner of Semi-Final 2 will get the first leg of the final played at home, before travelling to their opponent’s ground for the second leg which will take place in May.
The Oceania Champions League is the region’s premier international club competition.
OFC Competitions Director Chris Kemp said following four entertaining groups, the knockout stage of the OFC Champions League 2018 is also set to delight fans.
“We experienced excellent engagement from fans who followed the Group Stage and we’re delighted that so many have expressed their excitement ahead of the Knockout Stage,” Kemp said.
“The draw has set up some really exciting encounters with most of the quarter final teams set to meet for the first time in the competition.
“We look forward to the OFC Champions League getting back underway, after the international break, in early April.”
OCEANIA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
Match 1 07.04.2018. 14:00
Team Wellington : Lae City Dwellers FC, David Farrington Park
Match 2 07.04.2018. 16:00
Nalkutan FC : Marist FC, Korman Stadium
Match 4 07.04.2018. 19:00
AS Dragon : Lautoka FC, Stade Pater
Match 3 08.04.2018. 14:00
Auckland City FC : Solomon Warriors, Kiwitea Street.
