BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE Prosecution has closed its case against the former Constituency Development Officer of Gao-Bugotu constituency and his co-accused.

The prosecution has called 13 witnesses and thus it is now with the defence to continue with their case on the next appearance.

The case was then adjourned to March 28 for continuation of trial.

This is in relation to the case against men alleged for stealing sheet of roofing iron from the Gao-Bugotu Constituency.

Prosecution alleged that the two were stealing roofing iron from the constituency and which they sold to other people.

Bradley Dalipanda of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE case of a man alleged of causing death to another man in 2011 for dangerous driving has adjourned to March 26 for the presiding magistrate to hear the case.

Yesterday the case was mentioned before Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika, and he was told that the case was a part-heard matter before another magistrate.

Seuika then adjourned the case so that the presiding can hear the case on the next occasion.

Robert Pepeo was charged by police in relation to the incident which occurred at the Kukum highway opposite the Didao refuel station.

Police alleged that the accused was driving in the westerly direction on August 2, 2011 at a very high speed. The victim, which is the deceased on the matter, was driving from Vura road coming down.

At the Kukum hot-bread junction due to very high speed the accused could not control his brake and collided with the victim’s vehicle.

As a result of the collision the deceased sustained serious injuries and was later pronounced dead at the National Referral Hospital.

Public Prosecutor Patrick Rajah Abe appears for the crown on the case while Clifton Ruele represents the accused in court.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE defence lawyer representing Iki Olomea has seek further adjournment on the case to allow him make representation to the prosecution.

Daniel Kwalai of the Public Solicitor’s told the court yesterday that he has just been allocated with the file and intended to write to the prosecution in regards to the charges against his client.

Meanwhile Clifton Ruele who represents one of the accused informed the court that his client Simon Fiusiale is ready to take his plea as instruction has obtained from the client.

Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then grants the adjournment and adjourned the case to March 26.

This is in relation to the incident that occurred at Malaita in July last year where five men were in relation to possession of firearm.

Simon Fiusale and Iki Olomea were charged together with three other accused that are currently under warrant of arrest.

They were charged for possession of fire-arm and threatening violence.

Three other accused men currently under warrant are Leonard Ofaka, Bredley Abarai and Jimmy Eno Bana and they are jointly charged with other two of one count of possession of firearm and threatening violence each.

Police said that the men were drunk and threatened the employees of Dalgro Construction Company that won the bid for Bridge Construction at the Tabaa Bridge in North Malaita on July 21 2016.

It was alleged that one of the men who held the gun which is a 303 rifle black in colour put in a bullet and then cocked the gun pointing it at the workers.

Police also seized the alleged weapon believed to be used by the accused.

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man alleged of transferring money from his uncle’s bank account to another account will appear again in court on March 19.

Yesterday, prosecution withdrew some of the charges against the accused leaving them with 22 to proceed with.

A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office Leonard Chite confirmed in court that the case was represented by one his colleagues and said he has no proper instruction on the case.

Therefore he sought an adjournment so that the lawyer in carriage can assist the court on the case.

Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika then adjourned the case for March 19 to allow the accused to see his lawyer for instructions on the charges, and a possible plea will be entered on the next occasion.

This is in relation to the matter against Don Lisi Talu of Isabel who is alleged to have transferred the bank credit from the victim’s account to his friend’s accounts and withdrew the money for him.

Police further alleged he used the proceeds for his personal use.

The alleged incident occurred on several occasions between December 16, 2014 and January 23, 2015 after he left the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands.

Police alleged to have got hold of two Bank of South Pacific (BSP) cheques which claimed he found them at a Vura 1 home, Honiara.

Police also alleged that though the cheques have the names of the victim the accused never return them to the victim but cashed it at the BSP.

It was alleged that on 11 occasions he continue to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account by forging the signature and name.

He allegedly lied to the Bank Tellers that the account was ceased and then applied for mobile banking to be connected to the account of the victim.

Police then alleged that on 11 occasions after he got connected to the mobile banking service, he made mobile credit top up to his own mobile and to other mobile phones.

He also allegedly transferred bank credit from the victim’s account to nine different BSP accounts owned by other people on 10 different occasions.

Police further alleged that when he met people in town he would ask them to transfer money to their accounts, by saying that he forgot or lost his Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

Margaret Suifaasia of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the state.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE population served by Solomon Water in Honiara and surrounding villages is projected to increase to approximately 295,000 people by 2047.

Solomon Water currently provides water services to 58,000 people in Honiara and surrounding areas in Guadalcanal according to their 30 Year Strategic Plan.

The increase is reported to be driven primarily by migration of people from rural communities to urban areas and the provision of backlog services to existing communities.

Projected population increase over the next 30 years will have a significant impact on current water supply and wastewater systems including increased health, environmental and water quality impacts of wastewater discharge, the need for additional water sources due to increased water supply demand and the need to extend reticulation systems and improve the capacity of transfer systems.