BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Magistrates’ Court has scheduled the trial for two individuals charged with attempting to export prohibited drugs for February 17–21, 2025.

During a mention hearing on Monday this week, the counsels handling the case informed the court of their unavailability for February and proposed rescheduling the trial to either April or May. However, the court directed that the trial proceed as scheduled in February.

The court also advised the counsels currently on record that if they are unavailable on the trial dates, appropriate steps must be taken to ensure the defendants are represented by other legal counsel.

The matter has been adjourned to February 3, 2025, for an interim mention, during which the court will also review the warrant of arrest issued for co-accused Etekia Kauai.

Etekia Kauai and Beatrice Umea are jointly charged with one count of attempting to export a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The incident allegedly occurred on June 19, 2019, at Henderson International Airport. The accused are alleged to have packed eight packets of marijuana inside a speaker, with each packet sealed in a 20 cm by 20 cm plastic bag.

It is further alleged that Kauai brought the package to Umea, who was on check-in duty for Solomon Airlines. Umea allegedly accepted the package as unaccompanied luggage and tagged it to a passenger she had already checked in.

When the package went through screening, suspicions arose. Upon inspection, the speaker was unscrewed, and the packets of marijuana were discovered before the package could be loaded onto the flight.

Steward Tonowane represents the Crown, while Jennifer Happilyn acts for Umea.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Court has issued a warrant of arrest for a man accused of spreading false information causing fear and panic last year.

Junior Harry Gereniu was arrested and charged with spreading false information to public in October last year.

The warrant was issued after Gereniu failed to attend his court hearing yesterday.

Gereniu had pleaded guilty to one count of spreading false information likely to cause fear and panic in the community, contrary to section 63 of the Penal Code.

The matter was moved to January 17 for sentence and review of warrant if the warrant of arrest was not executed.

It was alleged on October 19, 2024 at 9.15pm, the accused appeared on a post on Facebook, alleging that a White Toyota Rav 4 without a plate number had attempted to abduct him, using a hook to steal a basket containing a passport and visa.

The RSIPF began investigating the alleged kidnapping on October 25,2024 after public panic and temporary school closures.

The accused later admitted to fabricating the story based on exaggerated remorse.

The false information allegedly caused widespread panic, resulting in schools being closed and police intervention.

Office of Police Prosecution Department act for crown and PSO for the defendants Gereniu.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man who pled guilty to stealing at a residence has been given a two year suspended sentence following an initial nine-month sentence.

The sentence was delivered yesterday by Principal Magistrate Emily Z Vagibule Pakoa.

Bravis Menapi was charged for larceny in dwelling house, contrary to section 269 (a) of the Penal Code, Cap 26.

He pleaded guilty to the charge on December 23, 2024.

In delivering the sentence court highlighted the aggravating factors which are; the seriousness of the offence, Menapi action for entering and exiting through the window of the victim’s home, his actions breach the security private homes of the victim and the mobile phone was never retrieve back to the victim.

For the mitigating factors, court also considered the guilty plea which saved court’s time and resources, he was a first-time offender, he cooperated with police and his youthfulness.

Court started with the starting points of twelve months imprisonment and added eight months for the aggravating factors, and then deduct four months for the earlier guilty plea and further deduct seven months for other mitigating factors.

The agreed facts stated Menapi is 23 years old, between July 1 and 31, 2024, he entered the dwelling house of John Kenedy.

He entered and exited the house through window in the evening.

He stole a bag and inside the bag a Samsung mobile phone.

Inside the bag, there was Samsung mobile phone. The mobile phone valued around $1,900.

He sold the phone for $100.

Around the time of the offending, Menapi was working as a carpenter for the complainant, building his house.

The complainant failed to pay Menapi for his service after he completed his work.

Menapi’s action arose when the complainant failed to pay him in almost two months and he desperately needed money.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

The matter of a man accused of persistent abuse of his daughter has been committed to the High Court.

The ruling was delivered yesterday, where court finds that there was sufficient evidence from the witness statements, medical report, record of interview and birth certificate of the complainant.

Court made directions for the matter to be called at High Court on January 31 for first mention.

After committing the accused, court delivered the ruling of bail application filed by accused and his lawyer.

In delivering bail application ruling, court granted the bail application however, made directions for the accused to pay a cash bail of $500 before release from the prison.

The accused was charged with persistent abuse of child and he pleaded not guilty.

It was alleged on October 15, 2021 the complainant was sleeping when the accused came and laid beside her, touching her body.

The victim woke up and shouted, and the accused apologised and told her not to tell anyone, promising the complainant that he would not do it again.

The next day on October 16, 2021 the accused reportedly assaulted the victim which he removed her shirt leaving her topless.

The defendant, with a knife in his hand threatened the complainant not to tell anyone about what had happened the previous day and after told the complainant to put on a shirt.

The facts further stated, later that day when the victim was sleeping, the accused went over and cradled her in his arms and committed the act of searching for a lice on her head.

The victim woke and froze, reportedly too scared to do anything, then the defendant allegedly began touching her body.

The defendant told the victim to allow him to touch her body, promising her that he would buy her a smartphone.

The victim did not accept what the defendant was doing to her that she allegedly stood up crying and went outside of the house.

The victim did not report anything to anybody.

In July this year, the accused allegedly assaulted the victim again.

Following this, the complainant decided to report her father (accused) so she went and reported to her aunt. Her aunt then went and reported the matter to police.

Herrick Lautalo appears for Public Prosecution Office appear for the crown and PSO for the accused.