PROSECUTION say they are expecting more complainants to come forward in the case of a man accused of obtaining money from students with a fake promise for Solomon Islands Government (SIG) Scholarship awards.
Donald Keso is currently facing three counts of False Pretence.
Last Friday, the Honiara Magistrate’s Court released him on a $1,000 cash bail with strict bail conditions.
It was also heard that more complainants will be coming forward to lodge their complaints against the accused.
Currently, Keso is facing complaints from three students.
It was alleged that on different dates in March and April last year, Keso allegedly lied to the victims that he was working as an agent for the NTU.
He then promised the victims that if they produced their required documents and gave him $1,000, he would place their names on SIG scholarships.
Two of the victims allegedly gave Keso $1,000 each, while one allegedly gave him $2,000 for himself and his sister.
Keso then told his victims that he would call them to collect their offer letter when their names were listed for scholarships.
However, the victims waited in vain for a response from Keso.
One of the victims went to the NTU (SITESA) office and enquired if a person named Donald worked at SITESA and in response, a receptionist allegedly told him that a senior female staff member that Donald used to work for had already resigned.
The victims were students of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) at that time of the offence.
After some months of waiting, nothing happened as allegedly promised by Keso.
After allegedly obtaining the money, Keso never informed the victims about their placements for SIG Scholarships and was only sighted again at a bus stop in Honiara on 18 February this year.
Keso was later arrested by police after the three victims lodged their complaints on 18 February 2023.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
