BY ROMINAH FAKA

Pre-trial conference into the case of four men accused in the break-in of the Tech Hub Koloale branch shop is set to be conducted at the Magistrate court today.

In the previous hearing, the four men accused in this case pleaded not guilty.

Stephen Yim, Jared Meke, Andrew Kiriau and Jimmy Kiriau are together charged with one count of shop break-in.

Police alleged on Friday, January 31, 2025, the complainant was informed that someone had broken into her shop, the Tech Hub Shop situated at Koloale area.

She went to her shop and upon entering saw a hole at the ceiling.

She also noticed that a glass counter which phones are displayed inside was broken and her lockup in which phones are stored was also broken and left open.

From there she checked all the properties inside the shop and confirmed that these following items were stolen – 18 iPhone 8s worth $27,000, 65 iPhone 7s worth $65,000, one Samsung Galaxy S21 worth $3,800 and cash of $560.

The complainant checked the installed CCTV camera and saw footage of the thief who stole the mobile phones and cash, case allegations said.

Police alleged that prior to the incident, one of her employees at Tech Hub shop who is defendant Mr Jimmy Kiriau, provided information to the other four defendants about the business activity at Tech Hub shop, phone lockup storage at tech hub, cashier table, CCTV camera position inside the shop and the surrounding and security of the Tech Hub shop.

The information was provided to his associates to help their planning to break and steal from the shop, police said.

In the early hours of January 31 between 4am and 5am, defendants Stephen Yim, Jared Meke, Andrew Kiriau and another suspect who is still at large boarded a dark glass gray van, police said.

They drove to Koloale area at Tech Hub shop and when they reached the junction, they dropped off the suspect who is still at large and drove back to a market stall located few metres away from Tech Hub shop.

It is alleged the market stall was owned by the security officer of Tech Hub.

The allegation said defendant Stephen Yim left the van while defendant Jared Meke and Andrew Kiriau remained inside the vehicle and watched while Yim distracted the security officer from concentrating towards the Tech Hub shop.

Yim engaged in conversation with the security officer and started telling jokes to gain his attention. Yim also allegedly played loud music from the vehicle to distract any noise from Tech Hub shop when the suspect who is still at large broke in through the shop roof and entered, police alleged.

After sometime the security officer heard loud banging noises coming from Tech Hub shop so he walked towards the building to see where the noise came from.

He entered the main door and saw the backside of the suspect, who is still at large, exiting the Tech Hub and walking up the Koloale road to the dark car wash area.

The security officer walked back to defendant Yim and told him what he saw, and in response Yim told the security that he would assist him chase after the suspect and so he went inside the vehicle and drove after the suspect.

But instead of chasing the suspect, Yim picked up the suspect, police said.

Yim drove back his van and slowly passed the security officer and asked if the security had seen the suspect. The officer replied saying no and defendant Yim drove off, police said.

On February 3, 2025, officers from Central Response Unit and Central Police Criminal Investigations Department located defendant Yim, Meke and Andrew Kiriau at Namuruka, White River.

Police said they all had in their possession iPhones and were arrested.

Police recovered eight iPhones from defendant Yim, seven iPhones from Meke and 18 iPhones from defendant Andrew Kiriau.

The complainant made identification on the recovered iPhones on February 3, 2025 and con-firmed that they were iPhones stolen from the Tech Hub shop.

Police made two attempts to apprehended the prime suspect who is still at large but failed. He is reportedly holding on a large portion of the stolen iPhones and cash, police alleged.

Office of Public Prosecutions prosecuting and PSO lawyers appeared for the defendants.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

An 18-year-old boy has been sentenced to one year imprisonment after pleading guilty to house break-in.

The sentence was handed down Tuesday this week by Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly at the Magistrate Court.

Jeremy Saemala, 18, was convicted of one count of housebreaking, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

In delivering sentence, Magistrate Hilly emphasised the court’s responsibility to uphold key sentencing principles, including deterrence, rehabilitation, reintegration, and punishment.

“It is important that the sentence you receive must teach you a lesson that will prevent you from repeating the same offending or any other offence in the future.

“It also serves as a warning to those who are planning to commit the same offence. This court will not tolerate such behaviour.”

The court highlighted several aggravating factors in the case. The offence was committed around 4am on March 9, 2025 during hours when the victim is typically asleep.

Ms Hilly noted that homes should be safe and secure places, and the defendant violated that sanctity.

Further aggravating factors included the use of a weapon and evidence of premeditation.

Saemala used a stick, curved like a hook, to steal electronic gadgets through a window after removing its louvres.

The stolen items included an OPPO phone, a Samsung tablet, a JBL Flip 6 speaker, and a Huawei power bank.

“The manner in which the offence was committed peeping through the window, removing the louvers, and using a hooked stick to steal the items shows clear planning,” Hilly noted.

Mitigating factors include Saemala being a first-time offender, unemployed and comes from a broken home.

He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and showed remorse for his actions.

Court found that these mitigating factors did not outweigh the harshness of the crime but were taken into account in determining the sentence.

Police recovered the stolen items later the same day after Saemala led them to their locations.

The OPPO phone and JBL speaker were found in his room, while the other items were retrieved from friends to whom he had given. All stolen property was returned to the victim.

Given the seriousness of the offence and the clear planning involved, the court ruled that an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Saemala was therefore, sentenced to one year in prison and time spent in custody to be considered.

Irene Mae appeared for the crown and Jennifer Happilyn for defendant.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The case of a 41-year-old woman accused of domestic violence on an elderly woman returns to court today for sentencing.

Racheal Ausolo, 41, is charged with one count of domestic violence and physical abuse.

After pleading, prosecution and defence submitted their sentencing and mitigation documents to the magistrate court on May 1.

According to the police, the incident took place on January 22, 2025, at April Valley.

On that day, Racheal’s son and his grandmother were allegedly sweeping outside the house when the child began burning mango leaves, they had gathered.

The grandmother then told her grandson to stop burning the leaves, which allegedly angered the defendant (the child mother) leading to an argument between her and the grandmother.

Police further alleged that the defendant struck the victim on the back of her left leg with a broom.

Philip Muliungu from Police is prosecuting and Bobby Harunari represents the defendant.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man accused of arson has pleaded not guilty before the magistrate court.

The case has been moved for May 19 for pre-trial conference.

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.

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

He is also the owner of the Rainbow company.

Tepala was an employee of Rainbow company who worked for four years as mechanic and resided inside the company compound with his wife.

Prosecution alleged on March 30, 2025 sometimes between 6pm and 7pm the complainant was at his residence at Ranadi when he received a call from an employee.

The complainant was told to call the police as the defendant had burnt down a company staff house.

The complainant drove to Maromaro area, his workshop compound where he called fire service and at around 8pm, police fire service attended to the scene and manage to control the fire.

The defendant was then identified and located at the scene and escorted to Naha Police Station.

The defendant was formally arrested and placed in custody.

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

Amanda Mono appears for prosecution and Thompson Fiuga represents the defendant.

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

Pre Trial Conference (PTC) into the case of three people accused of false pretence has adjourned for May 14.

The defendants are accused of pretending to be recruiting agents for seasonal work in Australia and obtaining money from the complainants.

PTC and setting of trial date was initially set for yesterday however defence counsel for defendant Joe Rex Raukaniu replied late to a proposal PTC sent by prosecution.

Thus, both parties need time to settle the PTC and trial date.

Raukaniu together with Elsie Vamily Nagive and Shirly Fa’aitoa are charged with one count of false pretence.

Raukaniu is charged separately with two counts of false pretence.

Police alleged on two separate occasions of an unknown date in February 2023 Raukaniu together with his two agents informed the two complainants that they were agents who recruited workers to Australia for seasonal work.

It was alleged Raukaniu took $2,500 from the first complainant and together with Elsie and Shirely took $2,300 from the second complainant.

Upon receiving the money, they told the two complainants they would update them on the status of their names for the seasonal work.

However, the two complainants waited but there was no response from the accused regarding the seasonal work updates as promised.

So, the complainants went and lodges their complaints with police.

Selwyn Vaike is prosecuting, a private lawyer acts for Raukaniu and PSO for Nagive and Fa’aitoa.

For feedback, contact:PTC for false pretence case May 14

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Pre Trial Conference (PTC) into the case of three people accused of false pretence has adjourned for May 14.

The defendants are accused of pretending to be recruiting agents for seasonal work in Australia and obtaining money from the complainants.

PTC and setting of trial date was initially set for yesterday however defence counsel for defendant Joe Rex Raukaniu replied late to a proposal PTC sent by prosecution.

Thus, both parties need time to settle the PTC and trial date.

Raukaniu together with Elsie Vamily Nagive and Shirly Fa’aitoa are charged with one count of false pretence.

Raukaniu is charged separately with two counts of false pretence.

Police alleged on two separate occasions of an unknown date in February 2023 Raukaniu together with his two agents informed the two complainants that they were agents who recruited workers to Australia for seasonal work.

It was alleged Raukaniu took $2,500 from the first complainant and together with Elsie and Shirely took $2,300 from the second complainant.

Upon receiving the money, they told the two complainants they would update them on the status of their names for the seasonal work.

However, the two complainants waited but there was no response from the accused regarding the seasonal work updates as promised.

So, the complainants went and lodges their complaints with police.

Selwyn Vaike is prosecuting, a private lawyer acts for Raukaniu and PSO for Nagive and Fa’aitoa.

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