Former SINU staff trial rescheduled for next Monday
TRIAL of the former staff of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) who was accused of burning exam papers worth over$93,000 last year will start on Monday next week.
Ricky Hoa is facing trial for one count of malicious damage.
His trial was earlier scheduled for Thursday this week.
However, since Principal Magistrate Tearo Beneteti was also engaged in another trial at that time, the trial was deferred to Monday next week to start.
Four prosecution witnesses are expected to give evidence against Hoa at the trial.
Hoa was charged after he allegedly set fire to files containing the student assessment task test, examination theory observation sheets and Practical Observation files.
It was alleged Hoa was not happy with few issues which he had with the university that affected him.
It was alleged that on 12 May 2022 at about 3pm, Hoa who was allegedly under the influence of liquor entered into the office of the Carpentry and Joinery Department.
Hoa went and loaded files containing the student’s assessment task test, examination theory observation sheets and practical observation files into a cardboard box and carried them outside.
Then he told a tutor to call the dean, who is the complainant in this matter, to go and see him.
Thereafter, he carried the files to his residence where he allegedly burnt them.
It was alleged that security officers tried to stop him but he told them that those files were his work that SINU had not paid him for.
The total value of the exam papers burnt is $93,319.20.
The complainant in this matter went to the Naha Police Station and lodged a complaint.
Aug 25 next court date for alleged militia leader
THE matter of the alleged leader of former militants from the defunct Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) and Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) who reportedly planned to burn down state-owned properties will face the Honiara Magistrate Court again on August 25.
John Damusi, 53, is currently facing charges of Conspiracy to Commit an Offence, contrary to sections 19, and 3 (1) (A) of the Counter-Terrorism Act of 2009.
His matter was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrate Court yesterday and was further adjourned to August 25.
The adjournment was made to allow the prosecution to sort out the charges against Damusi and to provide disclosures to Damusi and his lawyer.
Damusi is alleged to be the leader of former militants from the defunct Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) and Istabu Freedom Movement (IFM) who planned to burn down the Mamara Housing Estate Development Building and attack other state-owned properties on 15 May this year.
The prosecution also alleged that Damusi facilitated several meetings with MEF and IFM, some of which he himself chaired and at least one of which was conducted at his residence in Northwest Guadalcanal.
The meetings were allegedly to discuss the grievances of former militants over former and current governments prolongment of payment of their rehabilitation claims.
During the meetings, it was alleged that the group discussed several action plans to destroy and damage by fire critical infrastructures owned by the state.
However, their plans did not eventuate and shortly later police arrested, charged and remanded Damusi.
Other suspects were however, released on police bail pending investigations.
Public Solicitor, George Gray, represents Damusi, whilst the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Rachel Olutimayin appears for the Crown.
Forest Valley murder trial resumes Aug 28
THE trial of the three young men who were accused of the murder of a man at Forest Valley, West Honiara, in 2021 will resume at the High Court on August 28.
Sanders Mataisau, Nick Tino Wale and Randy Taia are on trial for one count of murder before Judge Howard Lawry.
The trial started early this week and continued until Thursday when it was adjourned to August 28.
The reason for the long adjournment was that Judge Lawry had another part heard trial listed before him yesterday.
The prosecution will continue with their case when the trial resumes.
The three defendants are on trial for a crime they allegedly committed on 15 July 2021 at the Forest Valley Community.
The trio were at that time engaged as community bye-law security officers for the community.
Their roles as bye-law securities were to ensure that the community was safe and free of criminal activities.
It was alleged that between 2am and 3am, the trio were on foot patrol to check on some boys drinking alcohol and swore at them.
When they arrived at the location, the boys already left and so the trio and other bye-law security officers returned to Forest Valley.
However, on their way back, the three bye-law security officers saw the deceased and two other men sitting near a house. The three bye-law security officers approached the men and accused them of swearing at them.
The three bye-law security officers then allegedly attacked and assaulted the two men and the deceased.
Not long after the incident, the leader of the bye-law security arrived and told them to stop and sort out the problem with the police.
The deceased was assisted to the National Referral Hospital but was later pronounced dead by medical authorities.
Closing submissions on arson matter, Aug 11
THE Magistrates Court in Honiara has marked August 11th as the date to listen to closing submissions for the six men who were accused of burning houses at Aola, Guadalacanal Province.
Philip Raeni, 19, Eddie Leua, 29, Daniel Naghata, 33, Philip Kona, 35, Charlton Kukiti, 33 and Lington Saki, 28 are facing charges of arson and assault causing actual bodily harm.
They had been tried in a trial before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea in February.
The closing submission which was listed to be made in court did not eventuate and was further adjourned to August 11.
The defendants were charged in connection to an allegation on May 10 last year at Bulokalai Village.
This was in relation to a sorcery issue, where the defendants claimed that a person practice black magic.
The six defendants were amongst a group of men that retaliated and burnt down four houses and a kitchen belonging to an elderly person who was claimed to practice black magic and his relatives.
Prosecution alleged the defendants were angry over claims elderly person killed their relative using black magic.
The elderly person who claimed to have practiced black magic was earlier killed by another person from the defendant’s group.
That person, Fredrick Kuki is currently facing trial in the High Court for one count of murder.
