HIGH PROFILE Appointed Councilor of the Honiara City Council and businessman, John Szetu, was arrested on Thursday night, allegedly for obstruction of justice, police have confirmed.
But the case got an interesting twist shortly after Appointed Cr Szetu was taken into custody at the Honiara Central Police station.
An equally high-profile police officer at commissioner level allegedly ordered Cr Szetu’s immediate release. It is unclear whether the normal bail process was followed in releasing the Councilor.
There are two versions to Cr Szetu’s story.
One version suggests the senior police officer physically walked into the Central Police Station, demanding and receiving the release of Cr Szetu.
The other version said that the senior police officer simply ordered that the Councilor be released from police custody immediately. Honiara Central Police did, as ordered.
Police officers spoken to were guarded in their response.
They were, for example, aware that Cr Szetu was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He was to have spent Thursday night in police custody.
The alleged action by the senior police officer on behalf of Cr. Szetu threw a new spin on the case. It was clear police were not at ease to discuss the matter.
Cr Szetu could not be reached for comment yesterday. Solomon Star also tried in vain calling the Police Media Unit for comments yesterday. Police media was not picking up their phone, possibly because Friday afternoon is a clean-up day by public servants.
No information could be obtained on the case from either the High Court or the Magistrate’s Court. They simply said they had no information on the matter.
The case stemmed from a High Court Order, restraining Cr. Szetu from carrying out an eviction notice against a tenant of an adjoining building to Cr Szetu’s high rise hotel building complex at the Rove seafront.
Cr Szetu allegedly breached the restraining order, resulting in his arrest.
A member of the public contacted by Solomon Star said if the interference by the senior police officer in releasing Cr Szetu is true, then it clearly shows who is dancing with whom when it comes to law enforcement in this country.
“What is law enforcement in this country coming to. We are done. It should be exposed because no one is above the law,” the man said.
By Alfred Sasako
