Alleged riot instigator’s trial today
TRIAL of the 50 year-old man accused of leading a group of people to march to the Parliament house on November 24 will start today.
The accused faces one count of behave in a riotous manner.
He appeared yesterday in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court for an interim mention, where, the prosecution and the defence confirmed they are ready for the trial.
A bail application was also made for the accused, on which, the court granted with the payment of a $1,000 cash bail attached with strict bail conditions.
Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison also reminded the accused not to breach any of his strict bail conditions.
He said breaching any of the bail conditions will see his revoked and he will be remanded or that this bail will be forfeited.
The hearing of evidences will be conducted before Mr Hollison today and tomorrow.
The accused was charged in relation to an allegation on November 24.
He was seen at the Honiara City Council area at around 9.30am on November 24, where he allegedly assembled with other people.
Prosecution alleged he behaved in a riotous manner by leading a group of people and instigating them to march to the Parliament house.
The Police “Lima Squad 2 “tried to quell the accused’s group but to no avail.
Prosecution also alleged that accused was one of the active person who encouraged the group of people to gather at HCC area.
The accused was later arrested on November 29.
Magistrate: Juveniles’ defying curfew is sad situation
A HONIARA magistrate has described the case of three juveniles as a sad situation where very young people have defied the recent curfew laws ordered by the Governor-General.
Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison made this bench remarks this week when sentencing three juveniles who breached the recent curfew regulation.
“This case reflects a sad situation where very young people including these three juveniles defied the curfew regulations as ordered by the Governor-General which became effective as from the 26th November 2021 up to the 10th December 2021,” Mr Hollison said.
He added that people should not take advantage of any given situation to commit crimes and the rule of law must always prevail.
“That is to say that there is no lawful excuse or justification for the unlawful events that we have seen during the recent deadly riots.
“The ransacking, looting and burning of shops started from the 24th of November 2021 right through to the 26th November 2021.
“I take cognizance of the fact that innocent foreign investors from countries such as Australia and China, Papua New Guinea which is the home to Bank of South Pacific (BSP), local Solomon Islanders of Chinese origin, and some indigenous people were heartlessly and unfairly treated.
“I also take judicial notice of three locals who have tragically lost their lives during the riots between 24 and 26 November 2021, although at the moment, it is not clear how the trio got into the scorched building in the first place and whether or not they were part of the looters and hooligans.”
The three juveniles were each fined $500 and were also placed on a good behaviour bond in the sum of $1,000 for 24 months for breaching the curfew on November 26 at around 7pm.
Students slapped with $500 fine for curfew breach
THREE juveniles who breached the curfew on November 26 have been fined $500 each and placed on a good behaviour bond for a year.
The boys aged 14, 15 and 16 were sentenced this week after pleading guilty to one count each of restriction of movement of persons in Honiara.
Two of them are attending grade four and five while one is a form two student in various schools in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara.
Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison in his sentencing remarks said the lockdown and curfew regulations were made for the preservation of public safety in Honiara aimed at curbing the riots, burning and looting of shops and other private businesses.
“The riots and looting between 24th and 26th of November had resulted in the scorching of more than 50 buildings and destruction of business houses,” Mr Hollison said.
“The total loss in which I take judicial notice of is the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) report which stated that the minimum loss is more than SBD 200,000. 00 (200 million),” he added.
Mr Hollison said many business people which include foreigners, Solomon Islanders who are of Asian origin and indigenous people were rendered homeless because of these senseless and inhuman actions.
He further added that lives were sadly lost, thus, disobeying the lockdown or curfew regulations following the past week riots should be treated as more serious than the usual lock downs or curfews.
“These events had caused fear to the investors, business owners, and members of the public which must be condemned.
“The fact that the defendants along with the adult defendants were found together at Ranadi shows that they do not have any respect for the rule of law and they had taken advantage of the situation thinking that they would not be arrested.”
The maximum sentence for this offence is five years or a fine of $10,000 or both.
These three juveniles were sentenced under the Juveniles Offenders Act (JOA).
Mr Hollison said if they are adults, one of the most appropriate sentences would be an immediate custodial sentence.
However, he said he is not allowed to treat them as adults as required under the provisions of JOA.
Mr Hollison said under the JOA, these three juveniles are classified as “young persons” as opposed to a “child” and therefore, section 12(1) of the JOA, does not apply to them, hence, they can still be sent to prison for default payment of fines.
A check to the Honiara Magistrate’s Court confirmed the trio had already paid their fines.
The good behaviour bond in the sum of $1,000 for 24 months means that for 24 months or one year, the three accused must be of good behaviour and not commit any other offences.
If they breach the bond by committing any offences within one year, they will pay the $1,000 and also faces a fresh charge.
The juveniles are co-accused with 17 other adults who had already pleaded guilty to the charge and will be sentenced on December 20.
All 20 accused were arrested after police sighted them moving around the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) area, Telekom building and the Roundabout between 7pm and 8pm on November 26.
An indefinite curfew was imposed by the Prime Minister that was effective as of November 26 from 7pm to 6am the next day.
The curfew was issued following the three days of unrest in Honiara city that resulted in the looting, arson and destruction of business houses and shops.
The unrest followed a protest staged by some people from Malaita who were unhappy with the Prime Minister for neglecting their province.
Man denies spray painting graffiti on building
A YOUNG man has denied spray painting graffiti on Bishop Brother’s building at Ranadi on November 25.
He entered his not guilty plea to one count of rioters injuring building when he appeared in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court this week.
He was seen around the Ranadi area since November 25 and was arrested on November 27 at Bishop Brothers.
His matter was then adjourned to Friday for the court to deal with his second charge of restriction of movement of persons in Honiara.
The adjournment was made to wait for the outcome of the legal issues on other curfew cases before the Chief Magistrate regarding some legal issues.
A curfew was issued following the three days of unrest in Honiara city that resulted in the looting, arson and destruction of business houses and shops.
A lock down was issued on November 24 to Friday 6am followed by an indefinite curfew that starts on November 26 at 7pm to 6am the next day.
