Electoral Act breach sentence, Oct 27
SENTENCE for the candidate of the 2019 National General Election (NGE) who breached the Electoral Act will be delivered on October 27.
This followed the sentencing submissions and mitigation made on the matter of the defendant Mathew Taro on Friday last week.
Taro was convicted after a trial for one count of Failure to Disclose Election Expenses and Donation, a statutory offence as prescribed under section 125(2) of the Electoral Act 2018.
Taro came second in the election result for the West Makira Constituency.
He contested the 2019 NGE as a member of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), a registered political party.
Taro, however failed to submit his Statement of Accounts specifying expenses incurred during the election campaign and the source of all funds he used to meet his expenses before the deadline of 29 July 2019.
Section 69 of the Electoral Act requires all successful and unsuccessful candidates who contested the 2019 NGE to file with the Chief Electoral Officer their statement of accounts within 90 days after the publication of the NGE election results.
By Assumpta Buchanan
Newsroom, Honiara
Hearing into CFC rift case starts
HEARING into the case involving two factions of the Christian Fellowship Church (CFC) members in North New Georgia, Western Province, commenced in Gizo yesterday morning.
For the first time, a court case was held at the MSG Complex situated close to the Gizo Wharf given the fact that the Gizo Magistrate Court is too small to accommodate all the defendants and court officials.
The complex was sealed off from members of the public by officers from Correctional Service and Police stepped up security around the premises yesterday morning.
Chief Magistrate Emma Garo presided over the case which commenced with a roll call to find out if all defendants were present.
Of all the 72 defendants, more than half of them are still at large.
The Chief Magistrate then questioned why these other defendants were not arrested.
Both the defence and prosecution made submissions to allow time for them to negotiate on the charges and Chief Magistrate Garo adjourned the matter to Friday to allow for the requested negotiation.
The defendants were informed about the decision and were further remanded at Malakerava Correctional Centre.
Meanwhile, another case related to the CFC row will commence on Thursday and this will be heard by Magistrate Fatima Taeburi.
Magistrate Taeburi is due to arrive in Gizo tomorrow.
The CFC case is by far the largest having involved a big number of people, mostly men.
Key witnesses from Group B who are the victims are already in Gizo since last week to wait for their turn to appear in the witness box.
The matter stemmed out from an incident that occurred in 7 July 2021 following a split by CFC members.
Due to ongoing tension between the two factions, Group A allegedly attacked members of Group B.
During the attack, three dwelling houses were torched and other three permanent houses were looted and completely destroyed.
The group of men (defendants) also burnt some of their valuable properties of those in Group B.
The arson attack left many families in Group B homeless and without food.
Police responded to the incident, stabilised the situation and rushed casualties to the Munda Hospital for further treatment.
As a result, 72 people were arrested by Police. Most of them were released on bail after the incident in 2021.
However, last month they breached their bail conditions and were rearrested and most of them were remanded in the Malakerava Correctional Centre in Gizo.
The court session at the MSG Complex yesterday also attracted many members of the public who stopped by and peeped through the fence to listen to the brief proceeding.
The matter is being prioritised, given a huge number of people being arrested and the delay in dealing with the matter which occurred over two years ago.
Concerns have been expressed over the delay in bringing the culprits to face justice.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
Winwin robbery trial awaits No Case to Answer ruling
THE matter of the nine men on trial for robbing gold bars and $140,000 from the Winwin Mining camp in Guadalcanal in 2020 is awaiting the ruling on the No Case to Answer application.
The defendants Greg Hurainima, Samson Sake, Norman Garnita, Martin Maelifanua, Samo Kabolo, Ken Anilava, Harrison Ramo, Olson Seda and Watson Tabaliau are on trial for Armed Robbery and Impersonating Police Officer.
The trial was conducted before Chief Magistrate Emma Garo.
Lawyers representing the nine defendants made a no Case to Answer Submission at the end of the prosecution case.
CM Garo will be delivering her ruling anytime this week via zoom.
She is currently on a court circuit in Gizo, Western Province.
The prosecution alleged the defendants entered the mining camp in a G-plated land cruiser in the early hours of 9 December 2020 and allegedly robbed two gold bars, $140,000 in cash and 15 mobile phones.
It was alleged that some of the men wore balaclavas, whilst others wore the police sky blue uniform and police t-shirts.
The men were also allegedly armed with pepper spray.
Public Solicitors Ron Dickie Pulekera, Ben Alasia, Bobby Harunari and private lawyer Ben Etomea are representing the defendants, whilst appearing for the Crown is Public Prosecutor Vernon Taupongi.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
