RSIPF says it will launch inquiry into serious allegations against its officers by Chinese rice company SPETD
BY MORRIS NAFU
The South Pacific Economy and Technology Development Limited (SPETD) is an agriculture company which currently holds lease to the largest commercial rice farm in Solomon Islands.
SPETD’s aim is to provide Solomon Islands with fresh rice at much lower prices than the current exorbitant prices of rice, which are stale imported rice. SPETD operations entail employment opportunities for locals.
However, as operations started last year, opportunists have been disturbing SPETD with violent assault, extortion, vandalism, theft and threats to SPETD workers.
And, officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) are reported to be accomplices of these individuals, obstructing justice to SPETD.
SPETD has documents, photos and recordings of these allegations which Island Sun has sighted.
After many attempts and follow-up with police for justice, along with media articles and publications, SPETD resorted to calling on the national government for help, published on Island Sun front-page on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Issue 5484, titled ‘Protect Our Workers’.
Island Sun followed up last week with the office of the prime minister and was advised to follow up with the ministry of commerce (MCILI) and the RSIPF.
The office of the prime minister can only respond if the matter reached cabinet, Island Sun was told.
MCILI permanent secretary Riley Mesepitu has not responded to an email sent him.
The RSIPF replied to an email by Island Sun on January 7 with questions directed at the new acting police commissioner Mattias Lenialu, addressed to the police media unit and copying the Commissioner’s chief of staff, as per RSIPF protocol for media enquiries.
The RSIPF email said:
“The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is a disciplined organization that always strives to uphold its core values in order to maintain integrity and ethical standards when executing its mandated duties.
“These allegations are serious and does not speak well of RSIPF values. Your police, the RSIPF, is causing inquiries into these allegations and will provide proper feedback in due course of what appropriate actions is taken to deal with this matter.
“Your police appreciate your understanding during this inquiry process. Rest assured, RSIPF is committed to transparency, openness and candour to assist for the search of truth of these allegations.”
A SPETD spokesperson told Island Sun Friday last week that the company welcomes the statement by RSIPF.
“SPETD welcomes and stands ready to fully cooperate with the RSIPF in its promised investigations into our report.
“We have all the records and evidence to support our reports,” the SPETD spokesperson said.
Fraud committed in RSIPF police station, a government facility
The most serious accusation facing RSIPF is that a fraudulent signing agreement was carried out at the Henderson police station on costing the company, SPETD, $20,000.
The Henderson police station is a government facility. Thus, fraudulent activity was allowed to take place in this government facility, SPETD said.
Long before the physical violence began, SPETD said they were targets of a sophisticated extortion scheme orchestrated by two brothers [names withheld].
The duo repeatedly blocked the access road from the Honiara-Aola Road (Kukum Highway) to Babani Road, holding the company’s operations hostage, SPETD told Island Sun recently.
Under this duress, the company was misled into signing two “access agreements” paying more than $30,000.
The most recent agreement was signed on September 10, 2025, inside the Henderson Police Station, SPETD told Island Sun. The first signing agreement was done elsewhere.
The company later discovered that the land did not belong to the brothers, revealing the agreement as a fraud committed within a government facility.
“Our attempts to resolve issues peacefully were taken as a weakness and a method to extract more money,” the company spokesperson said.
“For these individuals, crime and violence have become a habit.”
The September 27 assault
The extortion escalated into physical violence just over two weeks later.
On September 27, 2025, security guard Nyson Muaki and a Chinese colleague, Yanjie Li, were intercepted by a white Hilux.
One of the brothers allegedly approached the vehicle and demanded $100 from Yanjie Li.
When refused, the man punched Li, causing dental and mandibular injuries.
Mr Muaki was also punched through the vehicle window, sustaining facial swelling and injuries to his left maxilla, SPETD spokesperson said.
Case files misplaced – Allegations of police negligence
Despite filing a report at the Henderson Police Station and providing medical evidence (Exhibit “NM 1”), the legal process has stalled.
SPETD said RSIPF has repeatedly told them that case files were “misplaced”.
As of early 2026, no arrests have been made against the two brothers.
The company is demanding an investigation into why a fraudulent agreement was facilitated at a police station and why the subsequent violent assault has gone unpunished.
Status of case file at Central police station unknown
It is understood that a new complaint file by SPETD is with the Central police station, following inaction by the Henderson police station.
When Island Sun followed up with the investigators at Central police station on Monday last week, an officer said he would confirm whether or not the SPETD file was with them.
Since then, he has not answered calls by this paper following up on his promise to give an update on the status of SPETD’s case file.
Call for government intervention
SPETD appealed directly to the Solomon Islands Government via the call in the media on January 7, 2026, to help resolve the problems it is facing and to also provide protection for its workers.
The company also said it had planned to stage a rally to call government to attention if it ignored its plea.
“We have been keeping silent for too long, but this is becoming unbearable. If a rally is needed to attract attention, we will give you a rally.”
A major investment on hold
SPETD’s rice farm, which currently stands as Solomon Islands’ largest commercial rice farm at 172 hectares, is poised to rake in an annual gross revenue of around SBD25million once fully operational.
SBD44 million was spent to set up the rice farm project following successful pilot project on a smaller scale at GPOL 2.
The rice farm is located in GPOL 1. Soil testing was carried out, and SPETD has the compatible technology and rice species found to grow well in the soil at GPOL 1 and 2.
SPETD also plans to provide training programmes for students of local university, the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) when the project is fully operational.
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