A FORMER member of the Malaita Eagle’s Force (MEF) who spent 11 years behind bars and nine years on parole was yesterday pardoned by the Governor General, Sir David Vunagi.
The pardon was announced by Sir David during the celebration of King Charles III’s 74th birthday anniversary in Honiara yesterday.
Governor General Sir David said, “Patterson Saeni of Sulagwalu village, North Malaita; Pardoned! In exercise of the powers confirred upon me by section 45 of the National Constitution, I, Sir David Vunagi, Knight Grant Cross of the Most distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight of Grace of the most venerable Order of Saint John, Governor General and Commander in Chief of Solomon Islands, hereby grant you a free pardon, with immediate effect from the date hereof dated at Honiara on the 16th Day of June, 2023.”
Mr Saeni was convicted of murder and received a life sentence on July 8, 2005.
He served in the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force as a Police Field Force (PFF) personnel before joining the now defunct MEF which took control over Honiara from June 6, 2000 until the arrival of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission in July 2003.
After spending almost 20 years in prison and on parole, Saeni’s petition for clemency and mercy was accepted by the Committee of Prerogative of Mercy on June 12, 2023, leading to his eventual pardon.
