THE court is requesting documentation from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services of the Covid-19 test done on the three men who crossed the border from Tasman, Papua New Guinea to Lord Howe, Malaita Outer Islands early last month.
The trio’s matter was listed again on Wednesday at 2pm in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court.
However, their matter was not mentioned in court following the Prime Minister’s advice that all work should cease no later than 12noon on Wednesday.
The Public Solicitor’s Office who represents the trio had also requested that the accused’s appearance should be excused in court.
The three men are facing the charge of restriction of movement of small craft vessels.
It was alleged that around 5pm on 3 December 2021 the three men arrived at Pelau Village from Tasman, PNG on board a 60 horse power engine.
They are believed to be natives of Pelau and Luaniua village in MOI.
Police Officers at the Pelau Police Post attended to them and charged them after they found that the men crossed the border from Tasman, PNG.
They kept the men under strict quarantine measures and on 21 December 2021 a Police patrol boat was sent to the MOI with medical staff.
The three accused and police officers who attended to the men were tested for Covid-19 but were negative.
The accused were then transported to Honiara to face the court where they were remanded in custody and later released on bail two weeks ago.
The trio are residing with their security at Lord Howe settlement in Honiara.
However, after making an appearance in court on Monday, the court wants to know if the trio were all tested and returned results are negative.
If so, the court also wanted documentation from the Health Ministry to prove the test results.
There are fears and concerns also raised that even if the trio were tested negative initially, there is high probability that they could have been exposed to other infected persons within the Lord Howe settlement in Honiara over the past two weeks.
The three border crossers will return to court, on Wednesday 26th January, 2022.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
