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Murder case returns to court for accused to take plea

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man accused of raping a 31-year-old woman which led to her death in Ngella in August this year is expected to take his plea on October 25.

The case was mentioned in court and then adjourned.

Joe Koti is facing one count of murder.

Prosecutor told court it had received outstanding documents which include five statements from the witnesses and has served them to defence.

Prosecutor adds that only the autopsy report remains to be collected.

Defence confirmed receipt and indicated that it has chosen a short form preliminary inquiry for the committal hearing.

Police alleged on August 25 at New Vunuha village, Ngella, Central province, the deceased was at her home with her family.

On that day, the deceased’s family was having a family gathering.

Around 6pm, the family had their dinner, which was followed by discussion and storytelling session. The meeting ended around midnight.

After the meeting, all the people that gathered for the family meeting left while the deceased and two women remained at the deceased’s house for clean-up.

Between 12am and 1am the deceased and the two women were still cleaning when a person called in at the house. It was alleged that this person had just come back from fishing. He gave some fish to the women.

The deceased told one of the women to cook the fish while she went to a Frank and Mary’s house about 50 metres away from her house.

She was returning a pot they had borrowed for the family gathering earlier that night.

Police alleged that these two women waited for more than an hour for the deceased to return but she did not return.

The deceased suddenly returned after an hour passed and told one of the two women that her body was not okay.

The woman saw that the deceased was bleeding heavily.

The deceased told the woman that on her way to Frank and Mary’s house, the accused grabbed both of her hands and shut her mouth and dragged her into the grass and raped her with great force.

The deceased said she had told the accused that she was bleeding profusely and he got up and took off.

Prosecution said the deceased struggled and managed to get herself up and tried her best to walk back to her house.

As she reached her house the two women tried their best to stop the bleeding but were unsuccessful.

They took the victim to Tulagi that morning, August 26, where she was referred to the NRH in Honiara.

When they reached the NRH the victim was pronounced dead.

John Wesley Zoze appears for the crown and PSO appears for Koti.

Fraud case returns to court Oct 15 for sentencing

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

The case against a woman found guilty of false pretence has adjourned for October 15 for sentencing.

The matter was heard in court on Thursday last week, in which sentencing was initially scheduled to happen.

However, defence raised a concern regarding the delay in the case, prompting court to instruct prosecution to file an explanation for the delay.

Pauline Peqoa Sipi was charged with false pretence. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and a trial was conducted at the magistrate court.

After the trial court found Sipi guilty of false pretence.

Court heard Ms Sipi at Henderson area, Guadalcanal Province on July 3, 2019, obtained $5000 from the victim for the install payment of a vehicle she was reportedly selling.

She had said she won the vehicle from a police tender.

Again, on August 2, 2019 Sipi obtained $20,000 from the victim purportedly for the second installment payment of the vehicle.

The matter was reported to police when the victim did not receive the vehicle.

Steward Tonowane of Office of Public Prosecution acts for Crown and Allan Tinoni of Public Solicitor Office acts for Sipi.

MHMS urges prioritisation of employee mental health

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Participants putting on a dance.

BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), has emphasized the need to prioritize employees’ mental health in the workplace, highlighting that a healthy work environment is essential for overall well-being and productivity.

Director of the Mental Health Division, Stephen Araitewa, emphasized this message during the World Mental Health Day event at the HCC outdoor court, yesterday.

Araitewa stressed that, “In the workplace, the impact of mental health cannot be overstated.  Stressed burnout and mental fatigue can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and low morale.”

However, the director emphasized that by prioritizing mental health, employers can cultivate a culture that enhances employee well-being and boosts organizational success.

“A positive and supportive workplace environment can also support recovery for patients with mental health conditions. Research shows that workplaces that support mental health see higher levels of engagement and innovations,” Araitewa added.

The director further suggested several actions employers can take to foster mental well-being:

“First and foremost, we must create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health. Training for managers and recognizing signs of mental health struggles and how to provide support is also critical. This refers to implementing supportive policies that support mental health in the workplace,” he said.

He also underscored the urgent need to raise awareness about the mental health resources available in the Solomon Islands.

“By promoting these resources, we can encourage individuals to seek help without fear or stigma,” he added.

Additionally, the director also emphasized the need to improve the level of mental health literacy, in organizations and companies.

“Let’s also recognize the power of community in the workplace. Open dialogues about mental health dismantle stigma and foster an atmosphere of support,” Araitewa said.

“Together, we can build environments that support mental well-being and empower everyone to flourish both personally and professionally,” he added.

Other stakeholders including WHO, UNICEF, HCC, Pasifiki HR, and the Disabled People’s Association of Solomon Islands (DPASI) were also part of the event.

Health impacts of oil spills on coastal communities

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Sheridan Rabbitt delivering her presentation at the workshop.

BY LORETTA B MANELE

There are several health impacts of oil spills on coastal communities.

Sheridan Rabbitt of Rabbitt Consulting stressed on this at the “Strengthening Marine Pollution Incident Resilience in the Pacific Islands” workshop that will end today at the Heritage Park Hotel.

She said there are a couple of health direct impacts of oil spills on coastal communities.

Speaking of coastal communities, Rabbit said there are harvesters who will be out in the marine environment and if oil is washing up on the shore and if they get into the water to try to harvest seafood there’s going to be direct contact with oil.

“There’s going to be health implications as a result of that direct contact”

She added that if they then consume the seafood, they’ve collected given that the seafood has been touched by oil they will have impacts from the consumption of contaminated foods.

Rabbitt mentioned that water source is also another important aspect of people’s livelihoods that can get contaminated when oil spills turn up in the first couple of weeks.

She said a lot of our remote villages in Solomon Islands don’t always have access to a lot of fresh water and in some cases depending on where the water source is coming from it might also be contaminated.

Rabbitt stated that there are also gendered impacts in the health sector because women are more often in direct contact with saltwater when they’re harvesting seafood more frequently than men who are often fishing from boats.

“So, for our health sector that’s something that we really need to be thinking about”

Accounting institute calls for investigation into OAG report on ESP

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BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The country’s institute of accountants (ISIA) has added its voice to the growing call for government action to investigate the audit report findings on the economic stimulus package (ESP).

ISIA’s call joins that of the Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale, Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU), and public for government and relevant authorities to act on the OAG report of the economic stimulus package (ESP) 2020-2021.

Chair of parliament’s public accounts committee Gordon Darcy Lilo, MP for Central Honiara, has told media that he intends on initiating a full hearing into the OAG’s ESP report.

In a statement themed ‘Drastic Reforms in Public Sector Financial Reporting Standards and Strengthening of Integrity Institutions is the way forward’, the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants (ISIA) said:

“The seriousness of these breaches calls for immediate government action to further investigate based on the findings of the Auditor General to hold those responsible for these breaches to account.

“These investigations must be pursued with all the due process required, and with the assurance of the integrity and independence of the authorities concerned. 

“Any conflict of interest, or perceptions thereof, of those involved in these inquiries or investigations should be avoided.

“A credible mechanism including relevant central agencies of the Government and watchdog institutions should provide the necessary support and impetus to appropriate authorities like RSIPF and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to take these matters further to conclusive outcomes.

“Effective deterrents and consequences are a necessary part of longer term structural and capacity improvements in public financial management in Government.”

Meanwhile, ISIA also recommends strengthening of integrity institutions such the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), Solomon Islands Commission Against Corruption (SICAC), the Leadership Code Commission (LCC), the Office of the Ombudsman, and Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI).

“This practically means that the Government should ensure that these organisations are fully resourced (and truly independent).

“This is how the Government can practically show their commitment to the fight against corruption – by ensuring high standards of transparency and accountability over the systems and processes through which public resources are being managed and allocated.”

The OAG released its audit of the ESP on Wednesday last week. The audit covered the ESP from 2020-2021.

The report’s findings revealed ‘major fraud risk, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309 million in government funds’, an OAG statement this week described.

First HRD network established in SI

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands has launched its first-ever Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Network working committee, marking a significant step in the country’s commitment to human rights advocacy.

The formation of the Network was announced during a workshop focused on developing a protection strategy for human rights, held from October 8th to 10th in Honiara.

The newly established HRD working committee consists of a chair and six members, who will tackle various human rights issues within the country. Participants at the workshop discussed both short- and long-term objectives for the Network, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with local and regional stakeholders.

The workshop, funded by the Swiss Embassy in Canberra, brought together human rights defenders from the Solomon Islands, students from the University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands and Solomon Islands National University, as well as civil society organizations and HRDs from Fiji and Vanuatu.

Organized by the Pacific Human Rights Defenders Network (PHRDN) in partnership with the United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR) office, the three-day event was a crucial step towards fostering a robust human rights framework in the Solomon Islands.

OAG, POLICE MEETING SOON

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Police says it’s awaiting referral from OAG before ESP report can be investigated

BY INDY MAEALASIA

Police is waiting for any referral from the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) before any investigation can begin, it is reported.

The OAG has told Island Sun it will be meeting with police soon to discuss its report’s findings.

This statement by police comes amid loud calls from the Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale, Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI), Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union (SICTU), Institute of Solomon Islands Accounting (ISIA) and public for government and relevant authorities to act on the OAG report of the economic stimulus package (ESP) 2020-2021.

Chair of parliament’s public accounts committee Gordon Darcy Lilo, MP for Central Honiara, earlier this week told media that he intends on initiating a full hearing into the OAG’s ESP report.

Auditor General David Dennis responding to Island Sun enquiry yesterday explained that the OAG and police have a MOU of cooperation which provides a direct channel for dialogue.

“We do have a MOU with Police which sets out a framework for cooperation including referrals, training and sharing of information.

“We will be meeting with the Police to discuss our recent audit findings including areas highlighted in our published report which requires further investigation,” Auditor General Dennis said.

Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau in a statement yesterday said the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the OAG had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 19 last year, which “sets out areas of cooperation including manners of referrals, follow ups, sharing of information and sharing of resources [with] the Auditor-General”.

Mangau reiterated that the “MoU provides a simple framework for both offices to collaborate in addressing areas that require further investigation”.

“The MoU formalises a process for the OAG to refer to the RSIPF any matters found in audits and other work which may indicate corruption, crime or misconduct.

“MoU also provides for the OAG to pass on any information it has regarding those matters that may assist the RSIPF in any investigation of interest to them.

“This process includes measures to ensure confidentiality and a process where a clear trail of the information being passed to the RSIPF is maintained.

“While I appreciate the call from leader of opposition, Hon Mathew Wale and our people for immediate investigation into the ESP audit report.

“Such referrals sometimes take time before reaching my office but we wait for the report to reach us then investigation commences,” Mangau said.

The OAG released the report on its audit of the ESP on Wednesday last week. The audit covered the ESP from 2020-2021.

The report’s findings revealed ‘major fraud risk, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309 million in government funds’, an OAG statement this week described.

Grievous harm case sentencing Oct 23

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man who pleaded guilty to stabbing a Bangladeshi at a shop in White River will be sentenced on October 23.

Nigel Haibagau had pleaded guilty to one count of acting with intent to cause grievous harm.

Yesterday the case was mentioned in court for counsels to submit their mitigation statements.

Facts of the case said on May 26 this year, around 3pm, the victim was at the shop counter when Haibagau walked into the shop with a kitchen knife.

Haibagau entered the shop without saying anything, and walked straight to the counter and punched the victim.

He then stabbed the victim’s left side of his head with the kitchen knife.

After the stabbing the victim, Haibagau walked out of the shop, but the security guard who saw what he did shouted at him so, he turned and shot the security with the knife, and missed.

The security guard ran to the White River Police Station for assistance.

At the time Haibagau escaped to the Tikopia Settlement where he was apprehended by police.

The victim was rushed to the National Referral Hospital.

After the arrest prosecution made an application to remand Haibagau which court granted.

Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) acts for crown and PSO for Haibagau.

Support human rights defenders

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a leading UN entity on human rights has globally documented at least 34 women human rights defenders killed in conflict-affected countries in 2022.

“But this is likely only a fraction of the real number,’’ said OHCHR Pacific Regional Office Regional Representative, Ms Heike Alefsen.

Heike said that according to data gathered by OHCHR Global in 2023, 320 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 40 countries were killed.

“Many of them while protecting nature and the environment,’’ she said.

She said that women human rights defenders from the Pacific have been demanding tailored support given the specific obstacles and threats they face.

“Such as violence from sorcery-related accusations, discriminatory customary laws and policies, restrictive legislation, gender-based violence, and sexualised online harassment and bullying,’’ said Heike.

She said that women human rights defenders face sorcery and witchcraft accusations while defending human rights.

She said that while sorcery accusations can be levelled at both men and women, most of the victims of violence have been women.

“With authoritarianism and repression increasing around the world, and in the context of the record the rights to freedom of expression, to assembly and association, in particular peaceful protest, are also under attack,’’ she said.

She said that human rights defenders are sometimes attacked or intimated for engaging with the UN on various issues.

“Each year the UN Secretary-General prepares and presents a report to the Human Rights Council titled “Cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights”.

“These reports provide an update on the trends and subject of intimidation and reprisals for cooperation with the UN from 2015 to 2024 and you can find these reports on the OHCHR website. I urge you to use these UN mechanisms and have your say in shaping a shaper world for the human rights defenders,’’ she said.

Human rights defenders visionary agents of change

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Human rights defenders see a better future for all and know how to make that future a reality said Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the Pacific, Ms. Heike Alefsen.

Heike said when delivering her key remarks during the Pacific Human Rights Defenders Network (PHRDN) workshop on Tuesday this week at the Heritage Park Hotel.

The Pacific Human Rights Defenders Network (PHRDN) organized the workshop with funding from the Swiss Embassy based in Canberra.

The three-day event aims to initiate discussions on developing National Action Plans (NAP) for HRD protection. This workshop will build on the knowledge from the Vanuatu workshop in February 2024.

“It is my pleasure to start my remarks for this important gathering with a quote from our United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Tuerk. 

“We all have the right – and the responsibility – to defend human rights. This was the simple yet powerful idea behind the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly 50 years after that same body adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),’’ said Heike.

She said that it is defenders who continue to make human rights a priority during these challenging times, with conflicts raging in various parts of the world and increasing inequalities in and between countries globally.

“But also, in situations closer to home in the Pacific where HRDs monitor and speak out about trends in backsliding on democratic freedoms and the rights of indigenous peoples, pressure on social protection funding, lack of equal distribution of resources to communities left most behind, distressing levels of violence against women and children, violations of human rights often despite limited resources or funds,’’ she said.

She said that Human Rights Defenders must be recognized for the value they bring to democracies and societies. 

She said that while some Governments may be taking a selective approach to human rights, Pacific HRDs face a multitude of risks from being targeted through online and offline hate speech.

“Constraints on freedom of assembly and difficulty in obtaining legal recognition for their associations, as well as in some cases, arbitrary arrest and detention, harassment, torture and worse.  Women human rights defenders in the Pacific are often seen as defying social or religious norms and threatening social and customary structures, and sometimes face attacks by both government and non-state actors, both offline and online,’’ she said.

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