BY ROMINAH FAKA
Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC) into the case against three people charged with false pretence for recruiting people for seasonal work in Australia will be heard at the Magistrate court today.
Yesterday the matter came to court for PTC however defendant Joe Rex Raukaniu informed court he was yet to obtain a business licence from the Honiara City Council (HCC).
Rex Raukaniu sought three working days from the court which court refused as the matter had been adjourned since March 4, and that the defendant and his lawyer should have addressed any issues during the course of adjournment.
Therefore, court made directions for the defendant to collect the necessary documents from Honiara City Council by yesterday and PTC to commence today.
Rex Raukaniu is charged separately with two counts of false pretence.
Rex Raukaniu together with Elsie Vamily Nagive and Shirly Fa’aitoa are charged with one count of false pretence.
Police alleged on two separate occasions of an unknown date in February, 2023 Rex Raukaniu together with his two agents informed two separate complainants that they were agents who recruited workers to Australia for seasonal work.
It was alleged that Rex Raukaniu took $2,500 from the first complainant and together with Elsie and Shirely took $2,300 from the second complainant.
Upon receiving the amount, they told the two complainants that they would update them on the status of their names for the seasonal work.
However, the two complainants waited but no response from the accused regarding the seasonal work updates as promised.
Selwyn Vaike is prosecuting and PSO acts for the defendants.
For feedback, contact:[email protected]
