BY ROMINAH FAKA

Trial against 11 women accused of breaking the law by selling betel-nut at Maromaro on December 7 last year began yesterday at the magistrate court.

It continued this morning.

Honiara City Council prosecution told court yesterday it will call a total of eight witnesses.

The 11 accused had pleaded not-guilty to the charge of breaching a betel-nut free-zone ordinance.

Yesterday prosecution called three witnesses who testified under oath.

The first two witnesses are law enforcement officers.

During examination both witnesses said the Prince Philip highway started from Kukum area to King Geroge area, Maromaro included, meaning it is a public area and the accused had breached the HCC betel-nut free zone ordinance.

Defence asked both witnesses if they had issued receipts to the suspects when they arrested them and confiscated their betel nuts and leaf.

Both witnesses admitted to the court that they did not issue any receipt and that they had taken all the goods to the central watch house.

There they took a photo of all the betel nut bags and labelled it, but then destroyed the betel-nuts because they were goods that did not last long.

Defence then asked the witnesses about the money they took from few of the accused which was never returned.

Both witnesses told court they are not aware of that money.

Court adjourned for the trial to continue today.

Bail for the accused were extended.

Ambrose Motui of HCC act for crown and Feriel Taki of HOF Law Chambers represent all the defendants.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

A 17-year-old male is expected to take his plea tomorrow for the case against him accusing him of killing a 37-year-old man at Kukum Heights in March this year.

Yesterday’s hearing was for the accused to be arraigned, however, the matter was administratively adjourned for Wednesday, tomorrow.

Prosecution alleged on March 16 this year between 3am and 4am at Kukum Heights, the accused and other boys were drinking when the deceased arrived in a taxi.

Prosecution alleged that the deceased had dropped off from a taxi at Kukum Heights area and was walking towards his residence when the incident happened.

When walking towards his home, the deceased went and asked a group of boys sitting beside the road for a cigarette.

After he left the group of boys the accused who was said to be under the influence of liquor followed the deceased and assaulted him from behind causing the deceased to fall to the ground unconscious.

The boys approached and separated the accused from the deceased.

The deceased’s brother, who was at the scene, assisted by two other boys, rushed him to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

The matter was later reported to police and the accused was arrested.

Office of Director of Public Prosecution act for the State and George Grey Director of Public Solicitor Office act for the accused.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Court will today decide whether or not a pastor who had allegedly led a group of eight men and terrorised a village in Savo island, will be let out on bail.

Yesterday, while applying for bail for pastor Bernard Bana and two co-accused Charles Bane and Rolland Fiu, defence assured court on three factors which are risks to these three men going out on bail.

The three factors are risk of re-offending, risk of interfering with the crown witnesses and risk of failing to attend their court dates.

Defence told the magistrate court that the three men would not commit any of these three risk factors, because they had learnt their lesson by having been remanded in custody for the past two months.

Defence added, for the men’s surety through their sworn statements, they will abide to whatever conditions court will impose on the accused and will take full responsibility as a surety.

Defence also informed court that the surety did not have cash money to pay for the cash bail of the three accused, so defence requested court for its discretion to grant bail and impose a principal bail on the surety.

Police Prosecution did not object to the three factors defence raised in its bail applications.

Instead, proosecution objected to the principal bail in which the defence counsel requested from the court’s discretion.

Prosecution argued that this would be unfair to other co-accused who had been bailed, and on their sureties who had paid for their bail of $500 each.

Court adjourned the matter for today for ruling of the bail application.

The nine accused namely, Pastor Bernard Bana, 34, Charles Bane, 72, David Bane, 35, Junior Rollin, 27, Thomas Fenli, 37, Albert Ramo, 21, Rolland Fiu, 41, Patterson Iugasia, 38, and Jacob Gore, 47, are all jointly charged with Criminal Trespass and Malicious Damage.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Allegations said leading up to the incident where Pr Bana had locked up church properties which had been presented to the Bazo SSEC church on Savo by sister churches on Honiara.

This reportedly did not go down well with the Bazo community.

This disagreement eventually led to Bana leaving Bazo for Honiara in January this year.

Two weeks later Bana’s wife returned to Bazo to collect their belongings.

It is alleged while she was packing up their belongings; a man (who would later become the complainant in this case) approached the pastor’s wife and told her to leave the church properties alone.

The wife reported this to her husband (Bana) upon return and he responded by telling her to inform the Bazo community and the man who had approached her to prepare $10,000 as compensation for him (Bana).

On Thursday, February 22nd Pr Bana and the other eight defendants met near the Yacht club sea front where Bana paid a sea fare of $700 and they crossed to Bazo Village, Savo at 5pm.

Allegations continue that they first shored at Koromilo village where they unloaded seven cartons of beer and headed to Mora village.

They arrived around 6pm in the evening and walked straight to Bazo village, to the complainant’s house.

The complainant and his family were in their kitchen having dinner when defendant David Bane came and spoke with him. One of the defendants threw a punch at the complainant but missed.

One of the defendants grabbed the complainant’s shirt while another defendant who was armed with an axe moved in to attack the complainant. However, the complainant freed himself and escaped.

Rollin gave chase with his home-made pistol but could not catch him, so he returned and threatened one of the villagers with the weapon, it is alleged.

The defendants then turned on the complainant’s house and properties and damaged it.

The total amount of the damaged properties is reportedly $10,470. These include the damaged solar watts, large bucket, and pieces of iron roofing, pots, cups, plates, spoon, luggage basket, dwelling house and kitchen house.

Allegations added that on February 23 the defendants to 16 pieces of roofing iron and a tank belonging to the Bazo church and sold them to some people from nearby Lokanipeo village.

Bazo community reported the matter to the police. On Saturday, February 24 the defendants were about to board a boat back to Honiara when the Police Response Team arrived and apprehended all the defendants and escorted them to Tulagi police station.

Next day they were escorted to Honiara.

Iete Tebakota of Police Prosecution Department act for the Crown and Rochelle Palmer of PSO represent Pastor Bernad Bana, Rolland Fiu, Albert Ramo, Charles Bane and Junior Rollin and Bobby Harunari of PSO represent Thomas Fenli, Patterson Lugasia, Jacob Gore and David Bane.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Case involving the trio Dickson Fito’o, Hudson Susuamae and Sio Wale charged with arm robbery of $100,000 and Chinese currencies at Holiday Resort Motel early last year, is yet to have a new trial date.

Yesterday the matter was mentioned at the magistrate court and prosecution asked for an adjournment for next week when a new trial date will be decided.

Defence counsel Lazarus Waroka told the court yesterday morning that he is withdrawing his representation for accused Mr Wale because of conflict of interest.

Waroka further told the court that he will inform the Public Solicitor Practice Manager for allocation of a new lawyer for Wale.

Court suspended the matter to May 16 for mention, parties to communicate and email each other their available date for the trial and copy email to the court registrar and PM Hilly clerk.

All three defendants Fito’o, Susuamae and Wale have pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of armed robbery.

It was alleged in the early hours on January 20, 2023 the trio allegedly entered into the Holiday Resort Motel armed with bush knives.

One of the defendants wounded a victim who is a Chinese national during their alleged attack.

They allegedly escaped with $100,000 including a Chinese currency.

Prosecution alleged that police had recovered a hand bag during the arrest of the three defendants but huge amount of money was never recovered.

Vernon Taupongi act for State and Rochella Palmer represent Dickson Fito’o, Bobby Harunari represent Hudson Susuamae and Sio Wale is yet to be allocated to PSO lawyer.

BY ROMINAH FAKA

Trial for the case against a man accused of causing grievous body harm on another man on New Year’s this year has been set to be carried out on a new date under a new magistrate.

Zane Taisia Gegeu is facing a grievous harm charge. He pleaded not guilty in a previous hearing.

Yesterday, Principal Magistrate Elma Rizzu Hilly told both parties that she will no longer be presiding over the case due to a conflict of interest.

She adjourned the matter for May 23 to be heard before a different magistrate.

Gegeu’s co-accused, Brendon Kakai is charged with common assault. He pleaded guilty to the charge and is waiting for Gegeu’s trial to complete so that his lawyer can submit his sentencing and mitigation submissions to the court.

Bail for Kakai was extended and remand for Gegeu was extended.

Taisia is also facing an ongoing murder and driving without licence charges which he pleaded not guilty to.

This matter has been committed to the High Court for trial.

With the Gegeu and Brendon’s joint case, it is alleged that early morning January 1 this year, Gegeu together with co-accused Kakai without a lawful excuse assaulted the complainant at the Pacific Crown Hotel who at the time was arguing with Gegeu’s sister.

It was further alleged that Gegeu took a Solbrew bottle and hit the complainant’s head with it, causing blood and injury to the complainant’s forehead.

The complainant reported the matter to police the next day.

John Wesley Zoze from Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) act for the Crown and Lazurus Waroka of PSO represent Zane Taisia Gegeu and Ron Pulekera represent Brendon Kakai.