THE ruling on bail applications for three of the nine men accused of robbing gold bars and a substantial amount of money from a mining camp in Guadalcanal last December is expected to be heard on Thursday afternoon.
The ruling was to be heard in court on Tuesday afternoon, but the matter was further adjourned to 2 pm today after the presiding magistrate was sick and did not attend court.
Watson Tabaliau, Samson Sake, and Samo Kabolo are the ones apply for bail.
The three men and their co-accused Ken Anilava, Harrison Ramo, Olson Seda, Martin Maelifanua, Norman Garnita, and Greg Hurainima are facing various charges including armed robbery and impersonating a police officer.
They were charged in relation to the alleged armed robbery which occurred in the early hours of 9th December 2020 at Winwin mining camp in northeast Guadalcanal.
The prosecution alleged the men entered the mining camp in a G-plated land cruiser and robbed two gold bars, $140,000 in cash, and 15 mobile phones.
The men allegedly wore balaclavas and some of them were armed with pepper spray. It was also alleged some of the men wore police blue sky uniform police t-shirts.
They escaped in the land cruiser but were later arrested on different dates and locations in and around Honiara.
So far only two mobile phones have been recovered, the court heard.
The Public Solicitor’s Office is representing five of the accused while Private Lawyers Ben Etomea and Joseph Iroga represent Ramo and Kabolo.
Prosecuting this matter is Public Prosecutor Vernon Taupongi.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN BONGIDANI
Newsroom, Honiara
