THE court will be handing down its ruling on March 20 in relation to an application made by the prosecution regarding the trial issue on the case of the men accused of ransacking a logging camp in Isabel in 2012.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo was supposed to hand down the ruling on Friday but said he needs more time to research the case.
The ruling was in relation to an application made by the prosecution regarding section 118 of the Evidence Act.
Police Prosecutor Moses Reani made an application to the court regarding that section after three of prosecution’s witnesses were not able to attend court due to transport difficulties.
Prosecution had already called four witnesses and intends to call three others who could not travel to Honiara in time for the hearing due to lack of transportation.
Mr Reani therefore applied to the court to have the statements of those three witnesses to be tendered to court instead.
The defence counsel however, objected to that being done, seeking that those witnesses must give evidence in court.
The accused, Christopher Bako, Derrick Bako and James Bako,David Bako and Benjamin Putu are facing charges of unlawful assembly, intimidation, wilful and unlawful damage, store break-in and simple larceny.
Police alleged the men went to Bagahe Log Pond on December 28, 2012 and destroyed machineries operating at the company site.
The machines were owned by Glengrow (SI) Ltd.
The men allegedly broke into the camp’s canteen and into the camp manager’s house where they stole goods and other valuable properties.
This was after the men were not happy with the company ignoring a High Court injunction order and continued its operation on a disputed land.
The court had on a previous court appearance issued warrant of arrests for David and Putu.
David also breached his bail condition when he left the country on a study leave without varying his bail conditions.
One of the conditions restricted him from travelling out of Honiara.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo on the last mention ordered prosecution to execute the warrant of arrest on these two accused.
There was no mention of the warrants of arrest last Friday as to whether or not they were executed.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
