HEARING of the appeal against a ruling which relates to a magistrate’s decision to acquit two Chinese will commence Tuesday next week in the High Court.
The Asians were accused of running prostitution in the country.
The hearing was supposed to be heard yesterday before Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, but the respondents’ lawyer was unavailable in court.
Sir Albert therefore adjourned the hearing to Tuesday next week at 2pm.
He then told the accused Zhu Jian Chun to notify his lawyer of the time so that he turns up in time for the hearing.
The hearing will be proceeding with only Chun as the second respondent Xiao Dong Luo has already left the country.
Prosecution is appealing a magistrate’s decision to acquit the two Chinese after their lawyer made no case to answer submissions at the end of the prosecution’s case.
The presiding magistrate ruled that there were no evidences against Chun and Luo and therefore set them free.
They were then cleared of the charges of aiding prostitution, living on earnings of positions, obtaining false permit or misleading application and receiving.
These were in relation to the allegation in 2010 at their Panatina residence in Honiara labeled as the “Blue House.”
The trial in this case commenced in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court in July 2011 and the judgment was handed down in 2013.
Prosecution filed an appeal after the judgment was handed down.
The appeal was listed before other High Court judges but the hearing did not proceed until now, on which the chief justice will be hearing the appeal.
One of the reasons why the appeal was not heard earlier in 2013 was that the High Court was waiting for the magistrate’s court recordings on the case.
Private Lawyer Joseph Iroga is representing both men while Advisor Josaia Naigulevu of Public Prosecutions represents the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
