BY ROMINAH FAKA

A 20-year-old male person has pleaded not guilty to assault charges stemming from an incident that occurred at Feraladoa area in April this year.

Following the plea yesterday, the counsels sought adjournment to finalize the Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC) documents.

Court adjourned the matter to June 30 for PTC.

The defendant Ben Kurumusi is facing one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Police allege that on April 1, 2025, the complainant was at his stepfather’s house in the Feraladoa area.

After consuming a few beers, he allegedly decided to go to Talise Market to buy cigarettes.

On his way to the market, two individuals approached and assaulted him, alleging that he had climbed into their house.

The two individuals then kicked the complainant and when he fell to the ground, they continued to assault him by kicking his mouth and face, which the complainant later, sustain injuries and his face was swollen with bruises.

He later ran to his uncle’s market stall for safety.

It is further alleged that when the uncle tried to resolve the issue and asked what had happened, the defendant, Ben who had followed the two individuals and appeared drunk, took a large rock and threw it at the complainant twice, striking him on his chest.

The complainant’s uncle told them to leave, whilst the complainant stayed at his uncle’s market stall until 4am, after his uncle walked him back to his house.

The complainant later reported the matter to the police, and the defendant, Ben, was arrested on April 9 and charged.

Police Prosecutor Smith Abuo is prosecuting and PSO lawyer act for Ben.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) for the case involving the burning of a staff house at Maromaro has been further adjourned to June 23.

On Wednesday last week, the defence counsel requested additional time to review a two-statement report emailed to him by the prosecution from the staff of Solomon Power, in relation to the issue of the possible causes of the fire whether it was result of an electrical fault or reckless actions of the accused.  

The prosecution counsel currently handling the matter is engaged in a court circuit at Lata and has also sought a two-week adjournment. The PTC document is yet to be finalized and signed by both counsels.

Defendant David Tepala, 35, is charged with one count of arson contrary to section 319 (a) of the Penal Code which carries a life imprisonment penalty. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The complainant in this matter is a native from China, 34-year-old and the manager of CF- Aluminum & FOAM located at Ranadi area, East Honiara.

He also the owner of the Rainbow company.

The defendant Tepala, 35 was the employee of Rainbow company who worked for four years as mechanic and resided in the company compound with his wife.

Prosecution alleged that on the 30 of March 2025 sometimes between 6pm and 7pm. The complainant was at his resident at Ranadi when he received a call from his employee.

He stated to him that he needs to call the Police as the defendant had burnt a house accommodating company staffs at Maromaro area.

It was further alleged that, the complainant drove down to Maromaro area, his workshop compound. There he called the fire service and at around 8: 26pm, the police fire service attended to the scene and managed to control the fire.

The defendant was then identified and located at the scene and was escorted to Naha Police Station by the complainant’s group.

The defendant was formally arrested and placed in custody awaiting to be dealt with accordingly.

On the next day, he was released from custody and participated in a record of interview in which he denied the allegations.

The defendant was then charged with one count of arson.

Nickson Tonowane of Office of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and Thompson Fiuga from PSO represents the defendant.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrate Court is scheduled to hear an application for the dismissal of charge or a stay of proceedings in a fraud case involving three defendants on July 9. 

The matter will be heard before Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly.

Defendant Chief John Kokoro Clinty, Chief Alosi Jonah Taka and Jerry Madada Pakivai are jointly charged with one count of false pretence, contrary to section 306 (a) of the Penal Code, read together with section 21 of the Penal Code. They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

On Wednesday last week, during the court hearing, defence submitted an application for a bail variation of bail conditions. The application was not contested by Prosecution.

Thus, court granted the bail variation and gave permission for the defendants to travel during the interim period, with the condition that they return by July 8.

In addition, the Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC) documents have been duly signed and filed by respective counsels.

The court will determine whether the matter proceeds to trial proper based on the outcome of the application to stay the proceedings or dismiss the charge.

Police alleged that on July 12, 2022, complainant Johnny Yeh, met with defendants Chief John Kokoro Clinty, Chief Alosi Jonah Taka, and Jerry Madada Pakivai at Coral Sea Resort Hotel to discuss matters related to the development plans for Robroy Island.

The defendants informed the complainant about the latest development concerning the reconciliation process with the Volaikana Soa Tribe.

It was further alleged that the defendants informed the complainant that the reconciliation works are still in progress, as both tribes (Volaikana Soa Tribe and Volaikana Tribe) had yet to reach an agreement on royalty sharing and other important tribal matters.

So, they allegedly needed more time to complete the reconciliation process in the near future.

The defendant requested complainant’s continued support in their reconciliation process, emphasizing its importance to the development of Robroy Island.

Upon hearing this, the complainant agreed and accepted defendants request for continuous financial support for their cause at the meeting.

On July 14, 2022, the defendant invited the complainant to Heritage Park Hotel for a meeting.

During the meeting, the defendants requested an allowance of $1,500 each for the seven chiefs and elders including themselves.

They also attached a letter dated 13 July 2022 address to the complainant company, requesting financial assistance for reconciliation purposes. Complainant upon seeing that, was satisfied and willing to provide support.

The allegations further stated that, at that time, the complainant did not know that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had already been made between the Volaikana Soa Tribe and New Venture on July 8, 2022.

A total of $10,500 was given to the defendants for reconciliation purposes, as requested.

The allegation also stated that the complainant gave $1,500 in cash to defendant Alosi Jonah and another $ 1,500 in cash to Jerry Pakivai in Honiara. The remaining $7,500 was deposited into defendant Kokoro personal BSP bank account on 16 July 2022 by POB, Greenland Enterprise Limited.

On July 18, 2022, the money was transferred to defendant Kokoro’s personal BSP bank account.

Police alleged that the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) confirmed that Volaikana Tribe and Volaikana Soa Tribe had completed their reconciliation and both tribes agreed to allow New Venture Limited to conduct Logging Operations on Robroy Island.

The complainant was not happy with what happened and reported the matter to the Fraud Squad at Rove Police Headquarter on February 13, 2025.

The defendants were subsequently arrested and charged and bailed.

Defendant Kokoro Clinty participated in a Record of Interview and denied receiving the $7,500.

Defendant Jonah Taka, during his record of interview, admitted receiving $1,500 but denied meeting with the complainant at Heritage Park Hotel.

Defendant Pakivai in record of interview remained silent when he was questioned about the allegations.

Mr. Lazarus Kwaiga from L&L Lawyers represent defendant Kokoro and Joseph Iroga of Florida International Legal Service represent Pakivai and Taka and Leonard Chite from Bridge Legal and Consultancy firm special prosecutor assigned by Office of Public Prosecution to prosecute the case.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man who pled guilty to assault is to be sentenced this morning at the magistrate’s court.

Flex Asuana, 38, was charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court heard that the incident occurred on December 22, 2022, at around 9.15am.

The complainant was at the Borderline bus stop market area chewing betel-nut before heading home.

Suddenly, the defendant approached him from behind and pulled his basket. When the complainant turned around to see who it was, the defendant picked up a piece of timber and strike him on the right hand, causing injury to his little finger.

As a result, the victim sustained an open wound and swelling on one of his fingers on his right hand.

After the incident, the complainant reported the matter to Naha Police, who then arrested the defendant who was formally charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm.

Philip Muliungu from Police Prosecution department is prosecuting and Kevin Maelanga act for the defendant Flex.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

THE case involving a man arrested by the Janus Task Force for forgery with intent to defraud or deceive the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification was heard in the Magistrate Court on Wednesday this week.

Chrisbane Hebala, 47, was charged with 11 counts of forgery with intent to defraud or deceive contrary to section 341 (1) of the Penal Code.

During the hearing, the prosecution made an application under Section 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to amend the initial charge originally filed on October 16, 2024.

The prosecution submitted an amended charge dated June 11, 2025, requesting that it replace the original charge.

The court granted the prosecution’s application, ruling that the amended charge would supersede the initial charge and the defendant was formally discharged from the original charge.

The defence counsel raised no objection to the amended charge upon reviewing it. The court adjourned the matter to July 10, 2025 to allow time for the defence counsel to obtain instructions.

The charge is related to the allegation that occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2023 at the time when Hebala was a sales manager with Raretech Enterprises, a Honiara based business which supplies ICT equipment and services.

Prosecution alleged that the defendant Hebala provided multiple false invoices from the competitors to the Ministry of Mines Energy and Rural Electrification, in order to ensure that Raretech Enterprises provided the lowest quotation for goods and services, ultimately securing contracts worth almost $ 400,000 over two years.

An investigation by Task force Janus is made up of specialist officers from the RSIPF and MoFT internal audit office, led to the arrest of defendant Hebala.

Taskforce Janus was established in August 2016.

John Wesley Zoze is prosecuting and George Gray represents Hebala.

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