Home Blog Page 895

Father and sons face court in robbery case

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A father and his two sons appeared in court on Monday this week.

They are accused of robbing a shop at Lungga, east Honiara.

Monday’s court session was for interim mention since their trial has been set for September this year.

Elton Titus Tosibana (father), Elton Kiko Tosibana Junior and Tony Misitana are each facing one count of robbery.

Bobby Harunari, representing the three accused, informed court that one of the accused needs to go to his home village to visit his family.

Thus he told the court that he will be making a bail variation on behalf of the accused on the next date of appearance.

Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti then adjourned the case for June 17 for bail variation.

Police alleged that Tosibana and his two sons entered a shop at Lungga on August 11, 2019 and stole $10,000 cash, sleeve cigarettes and other goods.

Police said prior to the incident one of the accused, Tosibana, had worked as a security guard at the Sirin Shop.

Prosecution alleged the robbery occurred after Tosibana went to the Sirin shop and asked for his three days’ payment for working as security at the shop.

After attacking the two Bangladeshi inside the shop, Tosibana Snr allegedly grabbed money from the cash box before it was taken by some boys who later escaped with it.

Not long after the incident, police arrived at the scene and arrested the three accused.

Police also recovered $600 from Tosibana Snr.

Tome acquitted of $1.3m embezzlement charge

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has acquitted Early Childhood Education teacher Cecilia Samani Tome over allegations she withdrew $1,387,756.30 that was mistakenly deposited into her ANZ bank account.

Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti acquitted her when defence filed a no-case-to answer submission, saying she did not have a case to answer to the allegation made by prosecution.

Ms Tome was charged with one count of embezzlement by public servant.

The allegation said Tome, of Faumamato village, Manaoba, Malaita Province, between December 7, 2017 and July 24, 2019, being employed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development as class teacher in Hatodea Early Childhood Education Kindergarten School, did fraudulently apply for her own use the sum of $1,387,756.30 without the consent of Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The accused is an employee of the Solomon Islands Government and she was alleged to have embezzled the government by withdrawing $1,387,756.30 after she was mistakenly paid $3,806,297.77.

The case was tried by paper, counsel did not choose to call any witnesses nor cross-examine any witnesses as it was agreed that all evidences were not contested, the only issue was to legally argue for their respective theory of case and do submissions based on the evidence relied upon by Prosecution.

Defence Lawyer Rodney Manebosa after assessing the evidence provided by the prosecution argued that the prosecution had failed to explain and highlight clearly the defendant’s actions that is fraudulent in nature in all the transaction of the whole matter.

Manebosa said prosecution’s analysis shows that the innocence of the defendant and her role in not doing anything at all in the transactions cannot be right and fair to then blame her and accuse her for being fraudulent in her dealings especially when she received and used the money from and through her own personal bank account.

He argued the failure of prosecution makes it a weak case for them as this element of the offending is already absent and is not sufficient in their view. Therefore, the court must rule in their favour that they have no case to answer in light of the charges laid against the defendant.

Meanwhile Magistrate Beneteti said, “I am dissatisfied prosecutions has provided sufficient evidence for the elements highlighted and discussed and must therefore rule that there is no case to answer for the defence and acquit the defendant accordingly.”

She said of all analysis provided based on all the evidence exhibited and submissions filed by both prosecutions and defence, the court is of the view that prosecution has failed in many aspects to sufficiently provide evidence.

Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown

Foreigner to appear in court again next week

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0
In-court

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against a Bangladesh national was adjourned to June 22 for the accused to enter his plea.

In the previous session early this week, court was informed that the defence lawyer was sick, therefore the case was further adjourned for next week where a possible plea be entered by the accused.

This is the case of a Bangladesh national faced with counts of rape, indecent act, criminal trespass and count of intimidation.

Regarding the rape charge, police alleged that the accused raped an underage girl on unknown dates early this year.

Prosecution alleged that the Bangladeshi raped the 11-year-old girl in an area on East Honiara.

According to Police the case was reported to the Henderson police station by the mother of the victim.

Police said the victim’s mother called in at Henderson Police Station and reported that her daughter was raped by a Bangladesh national in his bedroom.

The mother said she only knew of the incident when she heard stories from other girls about what happened to her, it was at that time the mother asked her daughter and confirmed that the accused has been doing sexual action on her for about a week but she was afraid to tell anyone about it.

Bail varied for men in Jejevo incident

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
-
0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Court has granted variation on bail conditions against men charged over an incident which occurred at Jejevo, Isabel Province early this year.

Defence Lawyer Lappy applied to the court to vary some of the bail conditions against the men to allow them to travel home while awaiting their trial to be held in August.

This is the case of five men accused to have involved in the incident that occurred on March 8 at Jejevo village, Katova district, Isabel province.

The men are facing counts of going armed in a public place, wilful and unlawful damage and criminal trespass.

Pleas of not guilty were entered and a trial date set for August 16 to 20.

Police said on March 8 a group of people armed with knives and axe and went inside the Jejevo community and destroyed properties at the estimated value of $350,000.

Police are advising people around the Katova area that investigation are still ongoing and are calling on the communities around Jejevo, Furona, Jajao and Hurepelo village in the Katova District to assist.

Police Prosecutions prosecuted the case in court.

Seif Ples closed

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE Seif Ples Gender Based Violence (GBV) crisis accommodation and medical clinic at Rove is temporarily closed, says SAFENET.

SAFENET this week advised general public that Seif Ples centre will be temporarily closed until Saturday, June 19, 2021.

“During this time if you require emergency shelter, please contact the Police on 999 or go to Christian Care Center. If you need medical help for sexual assault, rape or sexual and reproductive health, please contact Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) or go to nearest Honiara City Council Clinic and the National Referral Hospital.”

Seif Ples Gender-Based Violence Crisis and Referral Centre offers a comprehensive first response service for victim-survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in the Solomon Islands. The vision of Seif Ples is to build a future Solomon Islands free from sexual and gender-based violence.

SAFENET is a referral network of gender-based violence support services, coordinated by the Ministry Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. It aims to ensure that survivors of gender-based violence can access the support services they need, when they need it.

SINU to enroll students on unit basis next semester

Written by
Brian Lezutuni
-
0
Kukum campus of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

BY JARED KOLI

The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) will enroll students on units basis and not on entire programme basis, effective next semester.

This is one of the new resolutions the university announced on Monday.

The University Senate and Senior Management Committee told Island Sun that the approach will change the way SINU enrolls students, which was previously based on programmes.

“Starting next semester, we will enroll students on unit bases and not the entire programme bases. Previously, we enroll students based on their programs; each programs have fixed number of units to be taken each semester by the students.

“For instance, Diploma of Nursing programme have five units for students to take in a semester in order to graduate in three years. The fee per semester is $9,000, which is a fixed fee.

“From next semester, students will only enroll on units they can afford to pay. Therefore, a nursing student can enroll with only two units and it will cost him/her only $3600, however, he or she will not graduate in three years, it might take a bit longer,” The University Senate and Senior Management Committee explains in response to queries by Island Sun.

It said students that will be completing their study this semester and yet to complete their outstanding fees will not graduate.

“Students can only graduate and given their certificates after completing their outstanding fees.”

On Monday, the university announced that it permits students with outstanding fees to sit for their semester one final exams.

This was after a meeting held Thursday last week, where the committee rescind its resolution of May 26, 2020, and endorsed new resolutions that will be applied to students with outstanding fees. 

The new resolutions are;

  1. Permit students with outstanding fees to sit for their Semester 1 – 2021 final exams.
  • The results will be withheld until all fees are fully paid.
  • Distance Flexible Learning (DFL) students must pay their fees in full before sitting their exams.
  • Effective Semester 2 – 2021, the enrollments will only be considered and endorsed upon the payment of outstanding fees.
  • Effective Semester 2 – 2021. The enrolments will be based on paid units.

Gov’t committed $12.6m for CT Scan construction

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
-
0
CT building where all CT activities will be undertaken, near completion.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Government has committed $12.6millon towards the Computer Tomography (CT) scan project to foot the expenses under its budget allocation for 2021, says Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

Ministry of health in a statement yesterday said this sum was allocated to the CT scan project in response to the Parliamentary Health and Medical Services meeting discussion on the need to have $11 million to complete the project.

“The government had already committed $12.6 million to foot the expenses under its budget allocation to heath for 2021,” the ministry of health statement said.

The statement said in overseeing the management of the CT project the responsibility is now given to CT project steering Committee and with the Head of Radiology Department, National Referral Hospital, as the project manager.

The statement adds that the company contracted for the CT building component is Hatanga LTC whose duration is ending soon as work is completed.

“All these completed, will enable the commissioning of CT building and all the equipment and accessories for use. CT service opening is expected around November, 2021,” the health statement said.

The statement adds that there have been some delays and this is mainly due to the 2021 budget approval.

“Payment process only commenced after the budget was approved by parliament this year and health is following closely with the payment process.”

World Vision supports leadership training for Malaita youths.

Written by
Samie Waikori
-
0
Youth participants, guests and staff of World Vision Auki office after the official opening of the Youth Leadership Forum on Monday this week in Auki.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

Auki

YOUTHS from communities on East and North Malaita will complete a three days Youth Leadership Forum in Auki today (Wednesday).

A total of 44 youths from 20 satellite communities of World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) participated in the forum.

It was funded under the New Zealand aid and facilitated by WVSI through its Youth and Social Entrepreneurship Development Project (YSED) for Malaita province.

Some of the youth participants attending the training.

Manager of Youth and Social Entrepreneurship Development Project under WVSI Auki office, Robert Firidede explained that the YSED project consisted of two components; economic and social components.

He said under the social component like the economic component, WVSI will work with national the government, provincial government, NGOs and other partners to support youth development.

Guests present during the opening ceremony of Youth Leadership forum in Auki.

“Basically, under this social component, WVSI is working to support youths by building their capacity and ability to recognise their potentials to carry out leadership roles in their communities,” Firidede said.

He said the theme of the training is “Youth in Leadership” and implies that youths are in the process of becoming leaders or already leaders in the respective areas of community service in their communities.

Manager of Youth and Social Entrepreneurship Development Project under WVSI Auki office, Mr Robert Firidede is deliver his remark during the opening of Youth Leadership Forum in Auki on Mond

“The forum is like coaching or adding some other ingredients to the leadership knowledge and skills they already have and portrayed in their communities.

“So, during the forum, they expect to learn on a series of trainings that relates or is centred on the theme “Youth in Leadership,” Firidede said.

He said after the training WVSI expects participants to emerge and support community leaders on programs and activities within their communities.

Firidede said this is the ultimate goal of the training to equip youths so they can support in leadership responsibilities in their communities.

Meanwhile, WVSI Operation Manager, Ms Kathy Sevese Havea called on youth participants to make great use of the training and importantly to support their communities with what they have learned.

Operation Manager of WVSI, Ms Kathy Sevese Havea is making her speech during the opening of the Youth Leadership training in Auki on Monday.

She said World Vision is a child focused organization and it’s important what they learn will help to impact life of children in their communities to come up positive ones in the future.

Havea thanked the youths on behalf of their communities for participating in the forum and reiterated her call to them to support their communities with what they’ll learn from the training.

Wale calls for halt to mining

Written by
Press Release
-
0
A recent mining exploration on Isabel Province. Photo by Axiom Mining Solomon Islands.

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale calls for a moratorium to be placed on all forms of mining in the country until proper management and regulatory systems are put in place to safeguard our people and our non- renewable resources.

The call follows recent media reports revealing the cancellation of registered titles to all Rennell bauxite lands and the emergence of a fresh cat and mouse race between APID and Nickel Enterprise SI Ltd (NESI) in respect of the same mineral rights.

Wale points out that this latest development is a clear revelation of the escalating problems that had plagued this industry for years fuelled by white collar corruption and lack of government political direction. 

“It is a clear mix of a fall out from previous dealings rigged with controversy and evidence of inadequacies in the current administrative system to stop opportunists easily passing-off as reputable mining companies,” Wale said in a statement yesterday.

“In that particular case indications are, NESI is but a surrogate of Bintan Mining (SI) Ltd whose shareholders may well be the architect of a scheme designed to clear off APID and gain the vacant mineral rights through NESI,” he added.

“Regrettably, recent history in this sector suggests that competency, reputation, financial and technical capacity which are key prerequisite considerations for eligibility now appear lacking in decision making relating to the granting of mineral rights.”

Wale says this has unfortunately led to an influx of undesirable overnight fly-by opportunist companies easily getting in and cementing their grip on top government officials to secure control over the extractive industry, adding that this is evident in the current uncontrolled and controversial mining operations.

“The current problems are just tarnishing Solomon Islands’ reputation as an attractive investment destination for reputable companies leaving us at the mercy of opportunist operators’ hell bent on serving their own selfish interests.  

“The cycle must be stopped now before our non-renewable resources are squandered right before our eyes.

“I therefore call on the Government to quickly suspend all pending applications and to immediately impose a moratorium to remain in force until all applicable laws are reviewed and required level of improvements are added to enhance our regulatory and enforcement capacities and systems.

“I also call on the Government to cause a thorough investigation into any suspected cases of malpractice throughout the years and to deal with any officer who is involved with companies perpetuating the problems we currently have.”

RSIPF presents certificate of appreciation to SIPSP advisor.

Written by
Press Release
-
0
Commissioner Mangau handing over the Certificate of Appreciation to Advisor Woods

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has presented a certificate of appreciation to Solomon Islands Police Support Programme (SIPSP) Advisor Michael Woods after serving two years with the RSIPF.

The certification took place yesterday at Rove police headquarters.

SIPSP is funded by the Government of New Zealand and implemented by the New Zealand Police Service.

Advisor Woods arrived in the Solomon Islands in June 2019 and took up post as the Team Leader for the SIPSP. He worked with the RSIPF executive on the development and implementation of the Crime Prevention strategy.

During his time in the country, he visited many communities and worked with a number of police officers in the RSIPF.

He was very impressed with the level of professionalism and engagement displayed by RSIPF officers. The level of engagement RSIPF officers involved is much appreciated to protect Solomon Islands from COVID-19.

Advisor Woods says he was so privileged to have an opportunity to develop his own policing skills in his various interactions. 

“I have learnt much from Solomon Islands colleagues and the way they carry out their duties particularly regarding community engagement.

“I would like to thank those who displayed kindness and support during my time here. I will always have fond memories of my time in the Hapi Isles.”

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Operations Ms Juanita Matanga says, “On behalf of the Commissioner and RSIPF Executive I would like to thank you for the contribution you had made to the RSIPF during your time in Solomon Islands.”

“On behalf of ranks and files of the RSIPF I would like to sincerely thank you for providing essential support to the Office of the Commissioner of Police during your time as advisor. Your contribution on capacity development within RSIPF is highly commended.”

SIPSP Advisor Woods was presented with a Letter of Appreciation, an International Law Enforcement Cooperation medal and an RSIPF plaque.

SIPSP Advisor Woods will return to New Zealand as he has now completed his term with the programme.

–POLICE MEDIA

1...894895896...1,669Page 895 of 1,669