THE young civilian who pleaded guilty to possessing a VHF radio belonging to the Close Personal Protection (CPP) Department of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Honiara last October has been fined $2,000.
Darren Maelaua was sentenced last Friday in the Honiara Magistrate Court on one count of Possessing Police Property contrary to section 183 (a) of the Police Act 2013.
The maximum penalty of this offence is one of 5,000 ($5,000) penalty units.
When sentencing Maelaua, Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa said the item that was found in his possession belonged to the RSIPF, a creature established by statute and whose functions are extensive and requisite to maintaining peace, security and justice in Solomon Islands.
“Moreover, this particular item is assigned to the Close Protection Department, a unit within the RSIPF that is tasked with the critical role of making sure of the safety and well-being of very high-profile individuals, such as the Prime Minister and the Governor-General of this country.
“Your possession of this Motorola radio has placed the Close Protection Department in a vulnerable position, given the critical role they play in maintaining public confidence in the security of key figures and institutions,” Magistrate Pakoa told Maelaua.
Maelaua was given until 3pm Monday to pay his fine or face a three-month imprisonment term.
A check at the Honiara Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon confirmed he did pay his fine.
Magistrate Pakoa noted that Maelaua’s actions displayed poor judgement, ignorance and negligence or carelessness.
“What you did has posed a risk to the public’s safety and security since there are chances that the Motorola radio could have been misused,” she said.
Magistrate Pakoa added that the evidence given by the police officer who had forgotten the radio in Maelaua’s vehicle only explained how Maelaua came to posses the radio, but it did not excuse them from their significant negligence and ignorance.
She pointed out that Maelaua made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the police officer about the radio and claimed to be too busy to return it.
The police officer had asked Maelaua to return the radio when finds the time, but it was not returned until Maelaua was taken to the Central Police Station on 18 October 2024.
Magistrate Pakoa added that regardless of this account, the radio was found in Maelaua’s possession, which was sufficient to prove his guilt.
She also took into account Maelaua’s early guilty plea, being a first-time offender, his high chance of rehabilitation, his cooperation with the police and faithfulness to attending court.
Magistrate Pakoa also pointed out that the police officer’s action should be taken on his part, given his failure, ignorance and negligence, to ensure that police properties such as the one in question does not end up in the hands of civilians.
According to the police officer’s evidence, Maelaua assisted him in transporting his belongings to a house in Lungga sometimes in early October 2024.
A few days later, the police officer received a phone call from Maelaua asking if he had forgotten some of his stuff in his vehicle.
It was after the phone call that the police officer discovered his police radio missing and asked Maelaua to return it to him if he found the time.
After learning of Maelaua’s arrest, the officer went to the Central Police Station to explain the circumstances.
An informant witnessed Maelaua in the possession of the police radio on 18 October 2024 at the Koloale Car Wash and contacted police.
The Police Response Team officers attended the scene, searched Maelaua’s vehicle and found the radio inside.
The police officers identified it as an RSIPF radio and confiscated it from Maelaua.
Wally Hatingongo of Public Solicitor’s Office represented the defendant, whilst Police Prosecutor Smith Abuo appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
