* Alleged rapist remanded
* Court to rule on robbery case
* Shoplifter arrested, charged
Alleged rapist remanded
A MAN has been remanded yesterday for allegedly raping a 16 year-old in a cocoa plantation at Tenaru area, Guadalcanal.
Francis Bule was brought to the Honiara Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody, for the next 14 days.
He will re-appear in court on February 18.
The alleged incident occurred on 27 January 2019, when the alleged victim was asked by his grandfather to go and call the accused.
The accused earlier came looking for the alleged victim’s grandfather but then went into the cocoa plantation when the alleged victim was sent to call him.
It was inside the cocoa plantation that the accused allegedly raped the alleged victim.
The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested and charged with one count of rape.
Police Prosecutor John Palmer made the remand application which was granted by Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi.
Court to rule on robbery case
A MAGISTRATE will rule on Friday whether a man accused of launching a failed robbery that left his alleged victims injured at a shop in Honiara, will stand trial in the High Court or not.
This followed a short form preliminary inquiry conducted into the matter of Eric Junior Nathaniel on the previous court appearance.
Chief Magistrate Emma Garo then listed the matter to yesterday for the ruling of the committal hearing.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi further deferred the ruling to Friday on behalf of Ms Garo.
Nathaniel is facing one count of attempted murder in relation to an allegation on 7 December last year in Point Cruz, Honiara, between 8.30pm to 9pm.
Prosecution alleged he tried to rob the owners of the F.J Ship but failed to do so after the owners allegedly fought him off and struggled with him.
It was alleged the robber was wearing a mask at that time.
After injuring two of the alleged victims, the accused escaped leaving his cap and bag behind.
The bag, cap and CCTV footages of the attack was handed to police who later arrested Nathaniel the following night
The accused is also facing an armed robbery charge in relation to an incident in 2016.
He and four other men allegedly robbed $1million from two Asians outside the Bank of South Pacific Bank (BSP) at Point Cruz.
It was alleged the victims were on their way into the bank to make deposit.
This matter is now before the High Court awaiting trial.
Shoplifter arrested, charged
A MAN who allegedly burgled a shop at Point Cruz, Honiara last week has been arrested, charged and remanded in custody yesterday.
Luke Eroi was accused of robbing Moment shop at Point Cruz, on 30 January 2019.
Just four days after the alleged incident, police spotted Eroi at the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) area and gave a chase.
The police caught up with Eroi towards the road going up to Mbokona, Central Honiara.
It was alleged that the shop manager came into the shop on the morning of the alleged incident and discovered items on the counter missing, including a plastic bag containing $1 and $2 coins.
He replayed footages from CCTV cameras installed inside the buildings and saw that the burglar allegedly gained entry through a window which he (burglar) broke.
Those footages were supplied to the police, which resulted in Eroi’s arrest.
Eroi is due in court again on February 18.
