Case of men facing fraud charges to appear today

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case against three men allegedly charged for false pretence will be mentioned in court today.

This is the case against accused men Gordon Mark, Nelson Maeta and John Nelson Ross. The trio were charged in relation to an incident that occurred in 2011 in Honiara.

This case has been on trial and then adjourned due to other issues that needs to be sorted out.

The allegation provided in court said, between November one and 30, 2011, the two accused and other men obtained more than $300,000 by selling the victim fake gold bars.

Police alleged the men approached the victim, Hypolite Taremae, who is the former Minister of Truth Reconciliation and Peace, at his office at Anthony Saru Building.

Police said the men went to see the alleged victim with the intention to obtain money through false pretence and also to lure him into believing their made up stories.

The men and others allegedly told Taremae that they were from Weather-coast in Guadalcanal. And in the coming days a reconciliation ceremony will take place in their village but they did not have enough money.

It was at that time they showed a picture of a gold bar to Taremae which they claimed to be in their possession, Police said.

They allegedly said they have some gold bars which were stolen by the former Guadalcanal war-lord Harold Keke that was taken from the former Ross Mining during the height of the ethnic tension.

The men also allegedly showed Taremae a certification letter from the Director of Mines that confirmed that the gold bars were gold and worth six million dollars.

Having heard from the accused and seen all the documents, Taremae was convinced.

Then on various occasions between July and November 2011, the accused men allegedly handed Taremae three gold bars. In return they receive $300,000.

The victim however, later found that the men lied to him and he took the “gold bars” to a dealer who confirmed they were fake.

The bars were made from lead metal and painted with gold colour paint.

It was also alleged that the men threatened the officer who was investigating their case. It was alleged that the men say they will shoot him with a gun.

The allegation further said that the men claimed that they still have guns and will hunt for the case officer everywhere and will kill him.

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