BY MELVILLE TITIULU
Closing submissions hearing in the case involving a man accused of sedition and unlawful assembly charges linked to the November 2021 Honiara riot has been further adjourned to Wednesday, April 8.
The matter came for hearing yesterday, before Principal Magistrate, Ms Benedeti Tearo.
In court, defence counsel Mr Niuga, who appeared on instructions from Mrs Lily Ramo, told the court that the defence counsel in carriage of the case file was sick, hence, she had advised him to request the court for a seven days adjournment.
Special Prosecuting Counsel, Ms Mary -Ann Zurenuoc, told the court that she had no issues with the proposed adjournment.
However, she too was sick and was feeling unwell.
Principal Magistrate Ms Tearo, told both parties that since both counsels in carriage of the matter are sick, she was of the view that the matter be further adjourned to Wednesday, April 8, at 11am, for closing submission hearing.
In the meantime, the court directed that the Prosecuting Counsel work on responses to Defence closing submissions as filed on Tuesday, March 31.
Bail was extended for the defendant to Wednesday, April 8.
Defence counsel, Mrs Ramo, who is the counsel in carriage of the case file, was also directed to appear at the next mention on Wednesday, April 8.
The defendant, Mr Moffat Joel Konofilia, 49, faces two counts of charges.
Count 1, sedition contrary to section 3(1)(i) of the Sedition Act, and Count 2, taking part in unlawful assembly contrary to section 74 of the Penal Code.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two charges of sedition and taking part in unlawful assembly when he was rearraigned on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The trial issues before the court are whether or not the defendant was part of the group of men called the Malaita for Democracy (M4D) who travelled from Malaita on a ship and converged at Point Cruz, calling on the resignation of the then Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, on November, 24, 2021.
And if so, whether or not that amounts to unlawful assembly.
Special Prosecuting Counsel, Ms Mary -Ann Zurenuoc from the Director of Public Prosecutions, appeared for the Crown, while Mrs Lilly Ramo from Just Lawyers represented Konofilia.
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