A MAN facing a number of criminal charges in relation to the alleged abduction of a Chinese man in 2013 has decided to represent himself in court on Wednesday.
Eddie Funubana has been left without a lawyer on the last court appearance.
Public Solicitor’s lawyer Clifton Ruele withdrawn his legal representation on reason that Funubana lied to the court on a previous court appearance that he never visited him in custody.
Mr Ruele said he visited the accused several times and was not happy with the accused when he lied to the court.
Two other lawyers who had previously represented Funubana also on previous occasions withdrew their legal representation.
Standing before the court yesterday, Funubana said if he is to find another lawyer his case will be further delayed.
He told the court that he wants his case to proceed and therefore wants to take his pleas to the charges against him.
This was after Chief Magistrate John Numapo asked him if he will represent himself or find another lawyer.
After noting Funubana’s decision, he told Funubana that he cannot take pleas from him until Funubana had looked through his disclosures.
When asked if he has his file with him, Funubana said no.
Mr Numapo advised Funubana to get the file from his previous lawyer, have a look through the file before pleas will be entered.
This is a long time matter dating back to 2013.
Police Prosecutor Alice Foanaota yesterday told the court Funubana is facing charges of abduction, grievous harm, demanding with menace, larceny from a person, driver to be licenced and vehicle to be licenced.
Funubana was alleged to be the driver of the bus used in the alleged offending.
He is co-accused with three others, David Rongota, 22, Philip Finiga, 20, and Joshua Rautofea, 23, who are all under warrant of arrests since 2014.
Funubana was also under a warrant of arrest but was later arrested and remanded in custody.
The charges were in relation to the allegation in June 2013, where Funubana and his co-accused allegedly abducted a Chinese national and demanded him to pay $100,000 before they would set him free.
The alleged victim got in the bus at the Ranadi round- about in east Honiara intending to return home to China Town.
It was alleged that the bus driver then ordered the only two female passengers off the bus and then changed direction heading up to East Guadalcanal.
At Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL) in East Honiara the accused allegedly held the man at a knife point and ordered him to give them $100,000 or they would kill him.
Police alleged they beat him up and also stole his mobile phone and $200 cash.
They then allegedly took the Chinese all the way down to west Honiara and further to West Guadalcanal where he luckily escaped through a window when the bus had a tyre puncture.
The Chinese was picked up by a Hilux and dropped off at the Central Police Station where he reported the matter to police.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
