BY ROMINAH FAKA
Case on persons accused of being accomplices to stolen gold dust has been adjourned for February 20.
Ruling for one of the defendants, Max Gura, was initially set for yesterday but the magistrate was yet to finalise matters on the ruling.
Gura and co-accused Miriam Keni Sasau are charged together with one count of simple larceny and one count of possessing police property.
Police alleged on September 24, 2024, the complainant and his sister boarded their vehicle, registration number MC 7905 together with the prime suspect and drive to Bread Bank at Kukum to do a deposit.
This deposit was part of the facilitation process to export their 8992.10 grams of gold ashes.
The allegation further stated that the gold ashes was owned by the complainant and his family, which they decided to export overseas.
On their arrival at Bread Bank the complainant and his sister went inside the bank whilst the prime suspect waited inside the said vehicle.
After several minutes passed, complainant sister came out of the bank and noticed that the suspect was not inside the vehicle. She allegedly looks for the bag that contained the 8,992.10 grams of gold ashes but it was missing. She then tried to look for the prime suspect but did not see him anywhere around. So, she went back inside the bank and told her brother the complainant.
The complainant and his sister search for the prime suspect and tried to contact him however, his phone was switch off. There they believed the suspect escape with the bag of gold ashes.
On the 26th of September 2024 Max Gura transported the prime suspect in his vehicle to escape from the police and conceal him at his village in Guadalcanal.
The allegation stated, Gura alleged to receive a portion of the stolen gold ashes from the prime suspect and his wife after he drop him off at his hideout.
Police also alleged that later on defendant Keni Sasau sold a portion of gold which she alleged to collect an amount of $ 160,000 and return the monies to her husband Gura and the prime suspect.
The prime suspect then gave Gura and his wife Keni Sasau an amount of $ 10,000.
On the 3rd of October 2024, defendant Keni Sasau was intercepted by the Police Officer from Henderson Police at Henderson area while she went to sell another plastic contain gold ashes weighing around 80 kilograms, given to her by defendants Gura and the prime suspect.
The allegation further alleged that later in November 2024 the prime suspect escape to Auki and handed the remaining gold ashes to defendant Gura who would find a gold buyer to buy them.
Police allege that Gura reported went on and sold the stolen gold ashes, portion by portion.
Police discovered defendant Gura bought a number of vehicles and shared them amongst his family members. He also alleged to brought three door Rav4 and two-tone vehicles and Hilux which shipped to Auki.
Gura and Keni Sasau also alleged to bought a piece of land at Tasahe B and currently building home on that land plot.
On 5th of December 2024, police executed a Search Warrant at defendant Gura and Keni Sasau residence at Lugga. Police alleged to found a small Szeba bottle containing several grams of gold ashes, a cash of $ 6,317-60, small medicine like plastic for storing and weighting gold ashes which contain remain gold ashes, dark blue RSIPF Cargo Pant, one RSIPF Fire Service-EMT dark blue long sleeve station wear, one 511 blue tactical pant and one black OST rain coat, the properties of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Both defendants were arrested and charged accordingly.
Police Prosecutor Moffat Tei prosecuting and Donation Houa for defendants.
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