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Case against former BSP teller moved for May 1

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

Verbal sentencing submission for former Bank South Pacific (BSP) Teller has been moved for May 1.

Tessa Solenone Rore earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny by servant and one count of forgery of certain documents with intention to defraud.

Yesterday prosecution told court it had obtained the victim’s impact statement from the bank, which it had tendered to court and defence.

Defence sought a one-week adjournment to allow it time to go through the victim impact statement, before it can respond in its sentence and mitigation submission.

Court extends bail for Ms Rore; she is to appear in court next week for sentencing and mitigation submissions.

Allegation said Rore was employed as a Money Gram Teller at the Bank of South Pacific Limited (BSP), Central Honiara branch, since April 16, 2015.

The allegations against the accused arose when BSP customers made an enquiry to the bank about suspicious withdrawals and deposits in or from their personal bank accounts in 2020.

There, accused was removed from the till and the BSP Operational Risk Unit conducted an internal assessment.

It was discovered that the shortage amount from the till was around $400,000.

The accused took out money from the till or drawer, which resulted in cash shortages and she would do withdrawals from customer’s accounts to balance the till at the end of each business day.

Prosecution further states, on the next business day, she would deposit the money back to the customer’s account from the till.

It has been discovered that the accused had done these fraudulent transactions on 40 customers’ accounts since April, 2020.

According to the investigation report, the total amount the accused stole from the till is $500,000.

In the month of August 2020, the accused was officially terminated from her employment. Jonathan Auga of DPP Office act for the State and Emy Rusi of PSO act for the Accused.

Political tug-of-war

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‘Independent MPs holding the balance’

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

WITH the large turnout of Independent Member of Parliament (MP) elects, this grouping holds the fine line of the current lobby and camping period  

Political numbers are currently evident in The Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party, yet the current lobbying period may have a twist of unexpected turnouts with the current large number of independent members.

Other parties on watch with a good amount of elected MP’s are Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP), Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP), Solomon Islands Peoples First Party (SIPFP), Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) Umi For Change (U4C) Party, Solomon Islands Kadere Party (SIKP) and the Solomon Islands Party For Rural Advancement Party (SIPRA).

There are currently eleven Independent Member of Parliament elects. Namely, Tozen Leokana – South Choiseul, Isikeli Vave Junior – Shortland Islands, Choylin Yim Douglas – Ngella, Paul Popora Bosawai – North Guadalcanal, Ben Maenu’u – Lau-Mbaelelea, Polycarp Paea – Malaita Outer Islands, Derek Franklyn Wasi – East Makira, John Tuhaika Junior – Rennell-Bellona, Trevor Hedley Magaha – Gao-Bugotu,Cathy Nori – Maringe-Kokota and Namson Tran – West Honiara.

With all results of the National General Election (NGE) released, fifteen Member of Parliament (MP) elects are of the OUR Party led by Parliamentary Wing Leader Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, is formally leading in numbers.

This is not final during the current lobby period the country is currently sitting through, as convincing, negotiations and vision alignment processes are carried through to secure – majority rules, before the Governor General facilitates the date of the Election of the Prime Minister.

Lobbying has always been part of the country’s political arena at this point as the country’s political party system is weak and governments have always been a coalition. Meaning, more than one political party forms the government of the day.

Lobbying and camping is basically carried out to garner numerical support that will eventually lead up to the Election of the Prime Minister.      

In terms of numerical security at this time, it is bound to change unexpectedly over the coming weeks with other political parties that may also build up numerical strength either by garnering the Independent elected MP’s or if existing elected MP’s who are already affiliated and registered under a Political Party formally tender their party resignation with the Political Parties Commission.

Lobbying underway for Central province govt

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Polycarp Galaigu. Photo supplied.

Lobbing for the premiership post in Central Islands province begins this week and is expected to complete by next week.

Former premier and returning MPA for Ward 8 – North-west Ngella, Polycarp Galaigu, said he is confident in taking back the job.

Mr Galaigu said he has a number of outstanding policies to implement, since in his previous tenure he did not have enough time.

Galaigu came in about half-way after ousting the then premier, Stanley Manetiva.

Galagiu said in his small time, he managed to do great changes in Tulagi for example.

He facilitated the Tulagi market upgraded project, the renovation of Tulagi Hospital and the lease agreement made with the canary investors to operate in Tulagi for 75 years as agreed on in a lease document with the company.

Four other provincial members are also vying for the premier’s post.

Elijah Taikole, MPA elect for the ward of East Ngella, Michael Salini, MPA elect for Tulagi ward, Maurice Mae Tinoni, MPA elect for Sandfly and Beaunivesta ward and Kenneth Sagupari, MPA elect for West Ngella ward.

BY GREGORY HAKA ,STRINGER, TULAGI

Malaita police searching for stabbing suspect

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Police in Malaita are on the hunt for a man who reportedly stabbed another over an election related argument over the weekend.

The suspect is said to be in hiding somewhere on Malaita.

Malaita police commander Leslie Kili said the incident occurred at Urufoki, West Fataleka, following an argument which stemmed from election results released last week.

The victim is receiving treatment at Kilu’ufi Hospital.

Mr Kili said that the police are actively pursuing the suspects involved in the incident.

Further details will be revealed as our investigation progresses.

By William Ekotani ,Stringer, Malaita

Political camps

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Manasseh Sogavare Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party Parliamentary Wing Leader.

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

THE current lobbying period is building up possible camps of what is known to our country’s political norm to happen now.

Solomon Islands is well known for its unpredictable political nature when it comes to the current lobbying and camping period leading up to the formation of the government of the day.

Over the past, the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility (OUR) Party led by its Parliamentary Wing Leader Manasseh Damukana Sogavare has embedded a streamline of constantly setting up its political camp at Cowboy’s Grill within the Pacific Crown Hotel vicinity.

At present, former Prime Minister and sole current Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Central Honiara Gordon Darcy Lilo, who is the Wing Leader of Solomon Islands Party of Rural Advancement (SIPRA) has set up camp at Honiara Hotel within Chinatown.

The ‘CARE’ coalition which is a make-up of other parties that usually opts for Heritage Park Hotel as its gathering spot in Honiara’s Central Business District (CBD) and the Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP) are also a grouping that may have the possibility to have vision alignments in this convincing period.

Lobbying and camping stages are almost unpredictable as MPs are not legitimately bound to not move freely between camps.

Grievous harm case moved for tomorrow

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BY ROMINAH FAKA

THE case into the grievous bodily harm charge against accused Zane Taisia Gegeu has moved for tomorrow, April 26, for the setting of a new trial date.

Magistrate Pauline Smith Taroimae who presided yesterday told court, Chief Magistrate Emma Garo’s instructions was for the matter to be adjourned for Friday for mention.

Bail for Brendon Kakai was extended and remand for Taisia was extended.

Meanwhile the accused is also facing an ongoing murder and driving without licence charge which he plead not guilty to the charges and the case was committed to the High Court for the accused to stand trial on the later date.

However, for this grievous charge the Prosecution alleged that Mr. Gegeu on the early morning January 1 this year, Gegeu together with his co-accused Brendon Kakai without a lawful excuse assault the complainant at Pacific Crown Hotel who at the time arguing with the accused Gegeu sister.

It was further alleged that Gegeu took a bottle of Solbrew and hit the complainant head which caused blood and injury to the complainant forehead.

The complainant later went and report the matter to the police the next day.

John Wesley Zoze from Public Prosecution Office act for the Crown and Lazurus Waroka of PSO act for Zane Taisia Gegeu.

ELECTION RECOUNT?

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Chief Electoral Officer Solomon Islands Electoral Commission Jasper Anisi

SIEC advises aggrieved candidates to lodge petition with High Court

BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) has clarified that the appropriate avenue to request re-count is with the court through petition not the SIEC.

SIEC Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Anisi made the clarification during a press conference yesterday in light of speculations that certain aggrieved candidates were disappointed with counting process and want a re-count.

According to Anisi the Returning Officers, after making the declarations of the winning candidates under section 106 of the Electoral Act, and notifying the Commission of the full results, the Returning Officers could not review their own decisions. The Returning Officers were in legal terms considered “functus officio”.

Anisi said that the only authority able to review the decisions of the Returning Officers is the High Court of Solomon Islands.

“Any request for vote recount has to be lodged through the High Court.

“The appropriate place to request recount is with the court through petition not the SIEC.

“Commission can’t do anything because the RO’s have already discharged their duties.”

He further explained that the Electoral Act provides for the types of petitions.

“Everyone has the right to invoke those process, it is there in the Electoral Act, the types of petitions that you can do to petition results, what we are saying here is that, because the courts will decide whether those complains or allegations have substance or not, if not they (the court) can dismiss it on frivolous claims (claims which lacks any arguable basis).

“So, with electoral provisions, as soon as Returning Officer (RO) discharge their duties, they cannot go back and corrected anything. So, technically in law no one is there to do your recount.”

CBSI urges incoming government to support increase export volume

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CBSI Governor, Dr Luke Forau.

BY NED GAGAHE

Governor of Central Bank of Solomon Islands Dr Luke Forau has urged the incoming government to support and facilitate the export sector.

He said Solomon Islands seriously needs to focus on increasing the export volume.

Speaking at the launching of the bank’s 2023 annual report on Monday Governor Forau said often times we hear exporters complaining about them not meeting the demand of their buyers.

He said the government must support the exporting companies by providing appropriate incentives in order for them to increase their volume.

He adds that this support should include the whole supply chain starting from the farmer (if it’s an agricultural commodity) right up to the exporter. Moreover, the government needs to listen to the exporters, they know best.

“Important to note that the agriculture sector hasn’t reach its potential output yet. Therefore, large investments are needed in the agricultural sector.

“At the same time, it’s about time that we start focusing on adding value to our exports by down streaming our primary commodities. Again, this requires reasonable incentives from the government.

“The country hasn’t had any large investment in the secondary production since the establishments of Soltuna cannery and Palm Oil.

“We must seriously focus on investing in this sector to help boost our GDP. When the export sector booms, our foreign exchange earnings also increase – good for the country! High exports can also cause the local currency to strengthen.” CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau.

MPG serious about transforming Malaita province

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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA province is serious about transforming Malaita province and to ensure its development aspirations are achieve for the benefits of its people.

This was echoed by the Human Resources Manager for Malaita province, Richard Misi during a PCDF handing over ceremony to Ofabau cattle farm in Central Kwara’ae.

The outgoing Fini government had been working very hard with donors to see Malaita province is transformed.

This is by connecting Malaitans with their resources and ideas to transform Malaita economy, environment and social prosperity.

Also, part of Fini’s led government’s aim came the tar-seal project for Auki which MOU for the project had signed. The project will fund by PRC.

The HRM said this is what MPG is all about by opening its arms and embrace everyone to work together for mutual benefits especially Malaita province.

Mr Misi said it is least to say to China is no enemy to Malaita province, as it is known that no man is an island.

“Thus, we must work together and stop behaving like we can do everything by ourselves,” he said.

The HR Misi said in order for Malaita province to move forward in its development, it needs resource owners and provincial government to work together with donors.

Vave aims to prioritise constituents

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Isikeli Junior Vave. Photo supplied..

BY CAROL-ANNE SULEGA

NEWCOMER Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Shortland Islands Isikeli Junior Vave has vowed to prioritise the needs of his constituents.

When queried by Island Sun yesterday, he made clear that as a newcomer MP elect, he aims to prioritise the need to upskill and equip the education, tourism and livelihood sector of his constituency.

“I aim to focus mainly on education and the livelihood of my people by creating a small economical system within our islands to ensure that my people can be self-reliant and self-sustainable in their daily lives.

“I also aim to boost the tourism industry within our beautiful islands and create a tourist destination hot spot to highlight the beauty of Shortland Islands,” Vave said.

Vave added that investing in human resources and providing the avenue to tourism opportunities is tangible development that should be prioritised.

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