BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
THE continuation of trial into the case against three men alleged of false pretence charge and intimidation has been set for March 11 to 15 of next year.
Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi after setting the date adjourns the case to December 12 for interim mention and all accused appearance will be excused until March 6, 2019 all accused are required to appear on that date.
Defence lawyer representing Nelson Maeta also applied to vary bail condition imposed on her client yesterday.
Defence Lawyer Serah Karani said that her client will be leaving for Malaita on December 7 2018 and will returning on January 5 2019.
Without any objections from the prosecution the court grants the application and allows variation on the bail condition against Mr Maeta.
This is the case against accused men Gordon Mark, Nelson Maeta and John Nelson Ross who were charged in relation to an incident occurred in 2011 in Honiara.
The allegation said provided in court said that between November 1 and 30, 2011 where the two accused and other men obtained more than $300,000 by selling the victim fake gold bars.
Police alleged that the men approached the victim, Hypolite Taremae, who is the former Minister of Truth Reconciliation and Peace, at his office at Anthony Saru Building at that time.
Police said that the men went to see the alleged victim with the intention to obtained money through false pretence and also lure him into believing their made up stories.
The men and others allegedly told Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr 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, Mr Taremae was convinced.
Then on various occasions between July and November 2011, the accused men allegedly handed Mr Taremae three gold bars in return they received $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 fakes.
The bars were made from lead metal and painted with gold colour paint.
It was also alleged that the men threatened the case officer who was investigating their case that 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.
