Court to set trial dates for Ngella election petition in Sept
A DATE to hear evidences of briberies and interference with voting in the petition case filed against Member of Parliament (MP) for Ngella, Choylin Yim Douglas will be fixed on September 30.
That is the date when the election petition case filed by the petitioner Gabriel Salini will return to the High Court.
The first part of the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) was done yesterday before Judge Augustine Aulanga.
Having heard and discussed issues for the pre-trial conference yesterday, Judge Aulanga adjourned the matter to September 30 for the final stage of the PTC.
The Petitioner, Mr Salini was one of the seven candidates for the Ngella Constituency seat during the National General Election in April on April 17.
He lost the election after polling 2699, while Mrs Douglas won with 4255 votes.
Following his loss, Mr Salini filed the petition based on three grounds of Bribery and one ground of Interfering with Voting.
He included the Returning Officer for Ngella Constituency as the third respondent in this petition case.
Mr Salini said for the reasons set out in this matter, MP Douglas is ‘incapacitated’ to serve as the MP for Ngella Parliament.
Mr Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice, who represents Salini, told Solomon Star outside of the court that they have filed their list of witnesses.
He said there are 14 witnesses on that list but the number of witnesses they will call at the trial might reduce to 10.
Mr Suri will also file the list of witnesses that he would want to cross-examine.
“The last direction was for us to prepare the submissions and see our hearing is conducted and so the next hearing is to set the hearing date.
“So very likely, the trial might take place in October or November.”
Mrs Douglas’s lawyer Chris Hapa of Pacific Lawyers will be filing one more statement, which Mr Suri told the court they will not reply to, else the filing of statements and responses will continue nonstop like a “see-saw.”
Freliz Fakarii of Attorney General’s Chamber represents the Returning Officer.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Former MP Forau judgement deferred for Sept 6
THE fate of the former Member of Parliament Temotu VATUD Constituency, Clay Forau Soalaoi who was on trial for allegedly converting over $350,000 of his constituency project fund in 2012 will be known on September 6.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi last Friday deferred the judgement to September 6.
Soalaoi stood trial for 14 counts of conversion.
At the trial early this year, the prosecution called nine witnesses, whilst the defence called two witnesses, including Soalaoi.
Soalaoi in his evidence denied converting the $350,890 belonging to Temotu VATUD Constituency between 2012 and 2014.
At that time, he was the MP for Temotu VATUD Constituency.
The money was purposely for a Cocoa Industry Support Scheme and Rehabilitation of Coconut Industry Program.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant had on 14 occasions between 19 October 2012 and 31 October 2014 fraudulently converted the total of 350,890 for his own benefit.
Soalaoi his evidence said all along he thought his former Constituency Officer (CDO) submitted an acquittal report for that project.
He said he only came to know that no acquittal report was submitted when police approached him for this case.
Jim Seuika of DNS & Partners represents Soalaoi, while Public Prosecutor Vernon Taupongi is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Shipmaster’s manslaughter trial relisted for Sept 11
TRIAL on the matter of the Master of MV Taimareho 1 that was scheduled to commence yesterday was vacated and relisted to commence on September 11 before Judge Ronald Bei Talasasa.
The shipmaster Michael Roy Galo was charged with 27 counts of manslaughter.
The trial was vacated because the defence counsel was affected by some family issues.
Appearing before Judge Talasasa yesterday morning, Public Solicitor George Gray made an application to vacate the trial for the reason that he was affected by some family issues.
Judge Talasasa granted the application and re-listed the trial to commence on September 11.
Galo is facing charges in relation to a sea incident that occurred in the early hours of 3 April 2020 between Guadalcanal and Malaita.
The prosecution alleged that Galo who was said to be the shipmaster at that time set out the ship despite bad weather.
In March 2020, the Government came up with a repatriation plan amid fears of the COVID-19 community transmission in Honiara, which saw a huge number of people in Honiara leave for the provinces.
On the night of 2 April 2020, MV Taimareho 1 left Honiara with 738 passengers in spite of warnings from the Maritime advising vessels not to travel to provinces due to Cyclone Harold.
On its voyage to Are-are in Malaita, huge waves struck the ship during the night and swept 27 people overboard.
The ship continued on its voyage and arrived at Su’u Harbor on the morning of 3 April 2020.
A head count was conducted and 27 passengers were missing.
The missing passengers were mostly high school students.
Only six bodies were recovered.
Public Prosecutor Steward Tonowane is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
