BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The case of theft of around $2million worth of beche-de-mer and cash will return to court on May 28 for the defendants to take their plea.
The Magistrate’s Court is yet to arraign the three persons accused of breaking into Red Star Shop warehouse in Kukum last year.
Frank Firimolea of Ngaliwao village, Malaita Province, was charged alongside Deresi Donsia and Abana Rickson Suiti. Mrs Donsia and Mr Suiti are mother and son.
All three accused were charged with housebreaking and committing a felony contrary to section 300 (a) of the penal code as read with section 21 (a) of the penal code.
Prosecution alleged that Mr Firimolea, together with Donsia and Suiti at Honiara, Guadalcanal Province, on August 29, 2025, broke into a warehouse storage and container storage, a property belonging to one, Mr Zhong Ruwei of Chinese nationality.
It was alleged that items valued at $2 million were stolen which included 22 bags of beche-de-mer and $100,000 in cash.
It further alleged that the trio with the help of others gained entry into the storage facility. They used three vehicles to transport the stolen items from the warehouse to Tenaru, East Honiara, with view to conceal and retrieve later.
Police managed to arrest Donsia on September 29, 2025 with some of the stolen items also recovered. Her son, Suiti was arrested on December 22, 2025 after evading police arrest for months after the warehouse incident.
Principal Magistrate Ben Alasia presided over the matter when it came for mention yesterday. He further adjourned the matter as the Principal Magistrate who presided over the case file is currently on court circuit at Buala, Isabel Province.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday, May 28, for a possible plea. That is when all three accused will take their plea.
Principal Magistrate Alasia granted a bail extension for Donsia, and a further remand of warrant was extended for both Firimolea and Suiti.
Steward Beto represented the Office of the Public Prosecutions, and Mr Jason Anisi and Mr Harry Luahiti, both from the Public Solicitors’ Office, represented the three accused.
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