Pastor sentenced, set free
A CHURCH pastor who confessed to leading a group of his relatives to the property of his brother-in law at Bonala Village on Savo island in Central Islands Province in February has been sentenced to eight months in prison.
The 33-year-old pastor Bernard Bana received his sentence on Monday.
This was after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal trespass.
However, while imposing the jail term on the pastor, Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea at the same time ordered his release at the rising of the court yesterday because he had already served over six months in pre-trial custody.
DCM Iomea was of the view that the six months plus that Pastor Bana served in pre-trial custody was sufficient.
He and eight other men were initially charged with criminal trespass and malicious damage charges.
However, all his eight co-accused had the charges withdrawn from them due to insufficient evidence at a previous court date.
This left only Pastor Bana to face the charges. The charge of malicious damage was later withdrawn from him due to a plea bargain.
One of the eight other men, Rollin Jnr faced a separate charge of Possession of Firearm without License.
He had pleaded guilty to the charge and is currently serving an eight-month jail term.
Police found the firearm – a homemade gun- concealed in his shoe when police were making the arrest at Savo.
Pastor Bana married the complainant’s sister and they live together at Bonala Village.
This incident arose from the complainant’s displeasure with Pastor Bana.
Before the incident, tensions had built up over time due to differences between Pastor Bana and the complainant.
This was over rumours that a Member of Parliament gave Pastor Bana and other voters’ money for a project, which Pastor Bana denied.
Following their differences, Pastor Bana and his wife left Savo and came to Honiara.
Pastor Bana later sent his wife to get their belongings at their home on Savo but his wife went and found that some of their properties were damaged.
The wife also told Pastor Bana about threats she received.
On 20 February 2024, Pastor Bana instructed his relatives and father to go and resolve the issue with the complainant.
They travelled to Savo and arrived at about 7pm with shell money and a letter from the Pastor Bana’s father claiming $10,000 compensation from the complainant for swearing at the people of Malaita.
Upon arrival, they went directly to the complainant’s house and shouted that they arrived for him.
One of the men in Pastor Bana’s group flew a punch at the complainant but missed him.
Seeing Pastor Bana’s group was aggressive, the complainant fled.
Pastor Bana and his group remained in Savo until February 25, when the Police Response Team arrived in Savo and arrested them.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Moe murder trial starts
HEARING of evidences on a murder that occurred on Moe Island in the Russel Islands, Central Province, last August will start today in the High Court.
The defendant Jonathan Felega is facing trial for one count of Murder before Judge John Keniapisia.
The trial was supposed to start on Monday but was deferred for today.
The prosecution will be calling only three witnesses at the trial.
The crime was alleged to have occurred at about 1am on 11 August 2023.
It was alleged that Felega and his young nephew were on their way back to Minisi Village from Sagelua Village when they met the deceased coming towards them, holding a burning firewood.
As the deceased walked along the road beside a cliff, Felega allegedly assaulted him before throwing him off the cliff.
After that, Felega went down the cliff and wiped off blood from the deceased before getting assistance from people in his village.
Ben Alasia of Public Solicitor’s Office represents Felega, whilst the Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Kelesi appears for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
