PRINCIPAL Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi has sentenced a Chinese woman to one year and six months for offences committed last year.
The Chinese woman is convicted of six counts of larceny and embezzlement to the sum of more than $400,000 from her employer in money and cartons of cigarette.
Tong Jian Jing was an employee of the Low Price enterprise as a clerk, and was charged with six counts of larceny and embezzlement by servant in relation to incidents which occurred from November last year to around March this year.
Prosecution alleged that the first incident occurred on November 23 last year where she stole 11 cartons of cigarettes worth $170,500.
Prosecution further said from December last year to around March this year she stole a huge amount of money; the management of Low Price found out and reported her to the police.
Police Prosecution Service is prosecuting the case in court while Cathy Hite from Public Solicitor’s Office represents the accused.
THE Solomon Kids Basketball Academy (SKBA) competition continues today with round robin matches as the final playoffs approaches.
This year’s competition sees three boys’ team in the 15 years of age and above category, two mix teams in the 11- 14 years category and four teams in the junior category competing.
The academy competition enters day six today at the Chung Wah School after matches were forced to cancel Thursday last week due to school examinations.
SKBA Coach Davidson Toliliu said the players are making progress and has already identified some areas they will work on after the mid-year break.
“The competition is just to give our academy players the opportunity to practice the basics we’ve been training in an actual game,” Coach Toliliu told SunSPORTS.
“They are making progress. I’d say at the moment it’s fifty-fifty because some of the boys taking part are just here because they heard about the competition and decided to come.
“However majority of the boys have been training with the academy. So far it’s looking good, they’re improving.
“Just some areas to we need to work and polish up on. When they come back from the break then we’ll work on them,” he adds.
Final round robin matches for the the SKBA competition will take place Tuesday and Thursday next week with the final playoffs set for the week after next.
“Two weeks is left for the competition and then we’ll go for the break.
“This week and next week we’ll continue with the final round robin matches and then the week after next we’ll have the finals,” Coach Toliliu said.
Meanwhile SKBA Co-Founder Moses Kivo thanked the volunteers who came to help officiate matches and also their sponsors for making it possible to host the competition.
“Big thank you to Timmy Magi, Cecil Loti and Kafuru for coming out and helping referee the matches and also to our sponsors Qualitech Accessories Limited, Solomon Sheet Steel, Pacific Casino Hotel, CBSI and Our Telekom for the immense support,” Kivo said.
THE president of the national soccer club champions Solomon Warriors has called on members of the Telekom S-League (TSL) Board within Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) to step up on their mandated duties.
Hon. Dettke was referring to the delayed pay-out of their Telekom S-League (TSL) prize monies where organisers kept hanging onto it without releasing it earlier until two weeks later where it was finally paid out.
Warriors’ president Honourable Bodo Dettke made this statement during the club’s 2018 awards night in Honiara on Saturday.
“This kind of behaviour must be stopped. This is like we’re been let down by SIFF when they continue to drag on with matters supposed to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Warriors were issued with their cheque of $250,000 on May 10 but could not be withdrawn at that time because the concerned account lacked sufficient funds.
The $250,000 is a combined amount of the $150,000 won in the league competition and the $100,000 won in the championship series.
Despite been in possession of the cheque already, it took them another week before they could withdraw their money, according to the club.
“Hopefully, we look forward to one day things will improve in there or we just go in and simply change them because they always neglect their duties.
“Very soon we will raise complaints about them because they seem not to be doing things fairly and on time,” Hon Dettke stressed.
Hon. Dettke was also disappointed when their club was told by SIFF officials prior to the pay out that they would be given half of their prize money first and the remaining part later.
“Even though the sponsor Our Telekom had already given the money to SIFF, organisers continue to hang onto the monies, even promised and asked Warriors to pay half first and another half later but there is no such thing like this.
“We the clubs are tired of this and must be put to a stop,” Hon Dettke expressed.
Formal protest
Due to the above, Hon. Dettke is thinking of nothing else but will opt to go see other clubs with the possibility of coming together as a group to formally lodge an official protest.
“The only thing is to come out and group together with our other clubs in the TSL to formally lodge a protest to stop authorities bullying us around with this kind of ‘uncalled for’ attitude.
“This is to make sure that organisers don’t bully around with clubs next time.
“Warriors were lucky to have an established sponsor who is looking after its affairs.
“If this trend continues, it will not help the growth of football in Solomon Islands but will only see it deteriorate.
“I have spoken with some members of our club’s executive on the idea of forming a group with the other clubs to come together and protest against SIFF and we will soon table it for proper discussion.
“There are many concerned others out there who don’t have the guts to shake up the SIFF office but are being posed with fear that their clubs might end up getting penalised.
“We should not fear them but speak out to help us achieve what we desire to achieve for Solomon Islands football. We must speak out on issues affecting football in Solomon Islands. We must not remain silent.
“The more we talk, the more we will see improvement and changes made.
“This is my immediate task and I will raise this when meeting with my club’s executive members to share the idea of teaming up with the other clubs.”
Football and Politics
Hon Dettke then added that politics seem to hinder the growth of football in Solomon Islands.
“Politics is killing football in Solomon Islands.
“Just look at HFA, what is the problem at the moment?
“We have a serious issue here. Is it because of no money or they remain unwilling to look for sponsor?
“A lot of business houses in Honiara are willing to sponsor.
“But because relevant authorities continue to fail their mandated duties and it is the players who are becoming the victims here.
“You players too must involve in this crusade. You also have a voice. You are our voice. You should go around and sing the same tune to your friends from other clubs.
“Although we played against them but the important thing is to come together as a union to speak out against this.
“We must force to stop this.
“Most of the times, those responsible football leaders always abuse the process. We must do something about it,” Hon. Dettke, who is also the Member of Parliament for North West Guadalcanal, said.
Meanwhile, after the TSL presentation this month, several other clubs apart from Warriors have also raised similar concerns where their prize monies were delayed.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has confirmed the funding arrangement for the Pacific Games 2023 with President of Taiwan Dr Tsai Ing-Wen.
The Prime Minister successfully negotiated the arrangement with the Taiwanese President during his bilateral recently.
The president of Taiwan has thrown her Government’s full support for the Games and she was particularly overwhelmed and welcomes the Green Games initiative.
“Yes, we have been waiting for this,” President Tsai said.
The President was also impressed with the political will driven by Prime Minister Houenipwela and his Government for making significant progress since assuming office.
This was after the Prime Minister informed President Tsai on the latest progress made in securing land for the main stadium.
Prime Minister Houenipwela and 2023 Pacific Games Sub-Committee chairman Hon Steve Abana also led the delegation to meet with two top constructing companies in Taiwan.
The two companies are Futsu Construction, Ltd and CECI Engineering Consultants Inc.
The Prime Minister and chairman Hon Abana will then return and present a Cabinet paper for Cabinet to endorse any of the two companies that will build the stadium.
Speaking during the presentations, Prime Minister Houenipwela told the company representatives that the PG 2023 Games is an important project for his Government.
He said land for the main stadium had already been secured.
“This will be the first ever green games in the pacific region and we would like to host a successful and memorable event,” he said.
Hon Abana has also acknowledged the presentations made by the two companies and welcomes the funding arrangement support for the main stadium by the Taiwanese government.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is expected to make further announcements regarding the PG Games support and also other achievements from his trip to Japan and Taiwan in a press conference upon arrival in Honiara.
Under-17 futsal top goal scorer Raphael Le’ai celebrates one of his goals with team mate Frankster Rukumana during last year’s qualifiers in New Zealand.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) has confirmed the participation of the under-18 futsal boys team in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina come October.
The confirmation was made during Wednesday’s NOCSI Executive meeting in Honiara.
Wednesday’s declaration had put to rest doubts and uncertainty which previously hovers over the youth futsal side’s trip to Argentina following a quota in the games’ regulation which had it that each participating National Olympic Committee (NOC) is only allowed to send only one team sport per gender to participate in the global youth tournament.
Weeks leading up to the decision, futsal was in a stern competition with the hockey 5s under-18 boys following their qualification during April’s hockey qualifiers in PNG as to who will be given the green light by NOCSI to represent Solomon Islands in the games.
The Youth Olympic Games will run from October 6 to 18 in Buenos Aires and athletics and weightlifting are the other two approved sporting codes by NOCSI to accompany futsal.
Weightlifting and athletics are attending the games through ‘wild card’ unlike the case of futsal.
According to NOCSI, the decision embarked on to declare futsal men as the country’s team sport for the games was not an easy decision made by NOCSI taking into consideration that hockey men’s had also qualified through the same process.
“Hence, following the final deliberation by the NOCSI Executive Board in today’s meeting 23rd May 2018, the NOCSI Executive Board boldly agreed to send the Futsal men to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.
“The decision to pick futsal over hockey men’s is based on obvious reasons such as the following:
By merit and excellent performance
As a top number one ranked team in the Oceania
As a crowned championship in 2017 Oceania qualification event.
Competitive team at world/ Olympic stage
NOCSI President Martin Rara said: “On this note, I would like to congrate both futsal and hockey for making into the final stage to be qualified.
“However, it is unfortunate for Hockey men for not to be travelling to Bueno Aires as the IOC/YOGs rules and regulation spelt out very clear that there will only one space for team sport per gender to be selected from four (4) team sports that is ( Rugby Sevens, Futsal, Beach Handball and Hockey). In this situation, NOCSI select futsal to represent Solomon Islands as the most outstanding performed team sport in the region.
“As President, I would like to ask the national federation to cooperate with us in preparation the team.
“The process has now been completed, so I expect national federations to work closely with us to ensure we prepare our teams and meet deadlines.
“This will be the first of its kind to send a team to youth Olympic Games that truly qualified through merit or qualification. During the past two youth olympic games we only sent individual sports through Universality Placement (UP) or ‘wild card’.”
Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela (left) and ULMWP Spokesperson Jacob Rumbiak.
ULMWP calls on SI to be wary of report from recent Indo-funded trip
BY ROMULUS HUTA
THE United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela not to believe a single word which may be carried in the report of the recent visit by the government-led delegation to Indonesia in April, but rather ‘shove it into the trash’.
ULMWP Spokesman Jacob Rumbiak, who is in Honiara at the moment told Island Sun yesterday that information gathered from Jakarta during the visit may not truly reflect the cries of the people of West Papua but merely represents the cruelty stand of the Indonesian government.
“This trip was funded by the Indonesian government. They paid for the delegates’ airfare, per diems, accommodation and everything.
“The trip was purposely planned to mislead the Solomon Islands government on issues affecting the people of West Papua.
“The issues there are real. It is genocide where the Indonesian government is trying to hide,” Rumbiak stressed.
The trip to Jakarta was headed by Prime Minister’s Office Chief of Staff, John Teddie Usuramo.
Those that accompanied him were Special Secretary on Foreign Relations Rence Sore, Solomon Islands’ Ambassador to Indonesia, Salana Kalu, Development Service Exchange Chairman Inia Barry and other civil society activists.
The main purpose of the trip was to find out first-hand about the human rights and the self-determination issues in West Papua, according to Mr Sore in an interview with the RNZI on Wednesday.
“In my view, the delegation should be independent and supposed not to be using funds given by the Indonesian government,” Rumbiak said.
According to Rumbiak, the delegation’s visit was an indication that PM Hou was approaching a different stand on Papua to that of the previous prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.
Mr Sogavare, who is now the deputy prime minister, campaigned internationally about West Papuan human rights issues.
He was also supportive of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, and instrumental in its admission to the Melanesian Spearhead Group in 2015.
Rumbiak then called on PM Houenipwela to continue on from what was left behind by the former PM.
“I’d like PM Hou to carry on with what was left behind by Sogavare,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rumbiak is expected to meet with Sogavare, who is currently serving as the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of PM Hou who is still away overseas.
Judd Molea receiving the O-League best midfielder’s award from club president Hon Dettke
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Judd Molea receiving the O-League best midfielder’s award from club president Hon Dettke
NATIONAL soccer champions Solomon Warriors has ended its successful 2017/18 season in style with the rewarding of its players in Honiara on Saturday night.
In a ceremony marked to say thanks to the players for coming off again successfully by doing a double in the domestic Telekom S-League (TSL), club president Hon. Bodo Dettke described last season as big time for the club.
“We have won the TSL league and the TSL knockouts together and this will go down as a history for the club.
“Having to go as far as the quarterfinal in the Oceania Champions League is also another milestone achievement for the club.
“This shows who we truly are and I must take this as an opportunity to challenge the players to maintain similar performance when the new season starts.
“It’s not always easy to win. But with the hardwork every one, players and the team management have put together, we have been able to fulfil our objectives last season,” Hon. Dettke said.
Recollecting their campaign in the Oceania Champions league, even though they have been placed in a tough pool, they managed to make it through.
“I think we have proved many critics wrong with our results in the Oceania Champions League.
“We lost narrowly against Auckland City in a game we could have won.
“We lost but we competed well. We went into the Oceania Champions League by representing the whole country and lost with a lot of pride, something I am very proud of.”
Looking ahead to the next season, Hon Dettke said every team will try to beat Solomon Warriors next season and this is a challenge for the whole team.
“I urge all players to step up in their attitudes next season.
“Why we lost in the O-League quarterfinal was because we were not prepared to compete against the best.
“This is the reason why we need to step up to strengthen our weakness next season which I believe we can do it.
“The aim is to go extra mile and improve from last season.
Meanwhile, for the successes last season, the players were rewarded with cash pay outs and trophies.
THE Solomon Kids Basketball Academy (SKBA) competition continues today with day five of competition at the Chung Wah school hall.
This year’s competition sees a total of nine teams taking part, with three boys team competing in the 15 years and above category, two mix teams in the 11-14 years old category and four teams competing in the junior category.
The competition enters day five of competition today and will see three matches taking place for the junior category and one match for the high school boy’s category.
Junior category matches for today starts at 5:15pm as Doggz boys on Bulls in the boys division while Timberwolves meets Titans in the High schools boys’ competition.
Happening at 5:40pm will see Superstarz taking on Wolvepower in the girls’ junior category while Celtics is set to meet GSW in the mix genders competition at 6:00pm.
This year’s SKBA tournament is supported by Solomon Sheet Steel, Our Telekom and Pacific Casino Hotel.
Meanwhile competition table standings as of May 10 are as follows:
Diesel Viti’s Henry Pua misses with a right hook during his fight with Alex Mika at the Multipurpose Hall on Saturday. Photo Taromane Martin.
“My times’ coming”
By Taromane Martin
Diesel Viti’s Henry Pua misses with a right hook during his fight with Alex Mika at the Multipurpose Hall on Saturday. Photo Taromane Martin.
IT’S only a matter a time of says 20 year old Henry Pua till he gets the call to represent Solomon Islands in boxing at a regional competition.
The 20 year old south paw fighter shocked boxing fans at the Multipurpose Hall on Saturday night after defeating last year’s Pacific Mini Games bronze medallist Alex Mika via judges split point’s decision during their HABA bantam weight fight.
Pua who fights for the Diesel Viti boxing club said it was an honour to pick up the win, he is excited and hopes after 11 wins things will start get rolling for him.
“It was an honour to pick up the win over Alex who was one of the bronze medallists for the country at the Pacific Mini-Games in Vanuatu last year,” he told SunSPORTS after his win on Saturday.
“Actually this is not our first meeting. We’ve fought previously and to be honest it was our fight today was just another fight.
“But I’m excited having come off with the win over him,” he said.
“This is my 14 bout since joining the HABA fortnightly bouts in 2016. This is my 11th win in the competition.
“I started boxing when I was 18 years old that was two years ago. After 11 wins I would say my career is looking good. I’m looking forward for more upcoming tournament.
“Elven wins should hopefully get my career in boxing going,” Pua who hopes to represent the country in the near future said.
The 20 year old meanwhile praised his coach Junior Bainivalu, a long time and experienced boxing coach, for his mentorship and believes Diesel Viti is the right club for him.
And under the watchful eyes of the experienced coach Bainivalu, Pua is confident he will soon get the call to represent the country in the near future.
“Diesel Viti is a long time club. We train under Junior Bainivalu who has trained some of the country’s top boxers in the past like junior Chan and Benedict Talovae.
“It’s a privilege for me to train with him, he’s a very experienced coach, and I would say Diesel Viti is the right club for me.
“Of course I’m ready and it’s not one day. It’s just next year. I have always dreamt of representing the country and I have a very strong feeling that I can do it and my time is coming,” the 20 years old said.
Jerry Donga receiving the Warriors player of the year award from club
president Hon Bodo Dettke.
BY ROMULUS HUTA
Jerry Donga receiving the Warriors player of the year award from club president Hon Bodo Dettke.
MIDFIELDER Jerry Donga was named as Solomon Warriors’ player of the year.
Donga received the accolade during the club’s awards night held last Saturday in Honiara.
The attacking midfielder who is also a member of the national senior men’s soccer team was an integral performing member of the Moses Toata-coached winning side during the 2017/18 season.
This was despite nursing a late injury since last December which somehow played little effect in his performance heading into the Oceania Champions League and the Telekom S-League championship series recently.
Donga’s name will be imprinted onto a perpetual shield which also bears the names of other previous winning recipients’ namely former striker Kidston Billy, Micah Lea’alafa and Hardis Aengari.
Receiving the award, Donga was proud to be honoured with the club’s highest ranked title.
“I thanked the management of the club for recognising me this season.
“I hope this will be used to help me push forward next season.”
During the awards night, other players were also rewarded for their hardwork throughout the season.
The awards were given according to various categories by taking into account the performances from the Telekom S-League (TSL) league competition, TSL championship series and the Oceania Club Champions League.
The top performers in the TSL league competition are Hardis Aengari (Best Defender), Izomo Bird (Best Goalkeeper), John Alick (Best midfielder) and Tigi Molea (Best striker/golden boot).
In the TSL championship series, the top performers are Joseph Komu (Best Goalkeeper), Bata Furai (Best Defender), Jerry Donga (Best Midfielder) and Kensi Tangis (best striker/golden boot).
For top performers in the Oceania Club Champions League, Bird had his name called up for the best goalkeeper’s award for the second for the second time of the night, Allan Peter (Best Defender), Judd Molea (Best Midfielder) and Gagame Feni (best striker/golden boot).
Defender Emmanuel Poila received the most committed player award for his good attitude and behaviour toward training while Albert Wetney was given the Most Promising Young Player’s Award.
The awards ceremony was wrapped up with contracted players and officials been rewarded with their end-of-season pay-out totalling up to $360,000 from the club’s official sponsor.
Meanwhile, Warriors had a successful campaign last season by winning both the TSL league title and the TSL championship series.
In the recent Oceania Champions League, the club had also reached new heights by qualifying past the group phase and into the quarterfinal for the first time – something head coach Moses Toata plans on to surpass and promises to fulfil next season.
