A MAN accused of pretending to be a recruitment agent under Seasonal Workers Scheme and obtaining over $4,000 from two people appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday but was released on bail.
Joe Rex Raukaniu, 38, who is facing two counts of False Pretence, was released on a cash bail of $1,000 with strict bail conditions.
His wife, who is his security, was ordered to sign a principal bail of $500 to ensure the defendant complied with his bail conditions.
The defendant was arrested and placed in police custody since Saturday 5 October.
Public Prosecutor Georgina Oroi, when making the application, said on an unspecified date in February 2023, the defendant met the first complainant at Mokolo Building near the Lord Howe Settlement and told him that he was a recruitment agent for the Australian seasonal workers’ scheme.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant told the first complainant that as long as he paid the $2,500 to him, his name would be included in the list of seasonal workers to Australia.
Ms Oroi said the complainant believed what the defendant told him and gave $2,500.
“After that occasion, the complainant waited for a response from the defendant about the status of going for seasonal work in Australia but did not receive any response,” she added.
The court heard that on 7 October this year, two police officers assisted the complainant and had the defendant taken to the White River Police Station.
At the police station, the complainant asked the defendant if he could refund his money but the defendant told him that he would do so the next day.
On 3 October, the defendant again told the complainant to give him some more time to refund him.
The complainant met the defendant again but he was still unable to refund him and this prompted the complainant to lodge a complaint to the police.
The second incident occurred in February 2023 when the defendant obtained $2,300 from the second complainant to join the seasonal workers scheme.
The complainant on that day received a call from his brother who told him that the defendant and his workers are recruiting people for seasonal work in Australia in March 2023.
So, the complainant met the two women who were allegedly working for the defendant and gave $2,300.
The court heard that in September this year, the defendant called the second complainant and asked to borrow $1,000 from him.
According to allegations tendered in court, they met at the Commonwealth Street at Point Cruz and the defendant took the $1,000 from the complainant.
Ms Oroi said the complainant believed he was deceived as he never joined the seasonal workers’ scheme to date.
The defendant never refunded the complainant’s money.
Ms Oroi then applied to have the defendant remanded in custody due to the seriousness of offence and the likelihood of him interfering with crown witnesses as investigation is ongoing.
The court also heard that there are five other persons who intend to lodge formal complaints against the defendant to the police soon.
Wesley Faita’a of the Public Solicitor’s Office, however, made a bail application for the defendant and Magistrate Pakoa granted the defendant bail with strict conditions.
Magistrate Pakoa said she also noted that defendant was arrested since 5 October and was held in police custody to date, which is a clear violation of the Section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
The matter will return to court on October 23 for the prosecution to provide an update on the status of the investigation.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
