Ruling in unlawful sex case, Oct 4
RULING on a committal hearing conducted on the case of a 50 year-old man accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with his six year-old grandniece in 2019 will be delivered next week.
A short form preliminary inquiry was conducted yesterday on this case before Principal Magistrate Leonard Chite.
The accused is facing one count of having sexual intercourse with a child under-15 years.
Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu yesterday tendered to the court depositions for the committal hearing that contains the evidence against the accused.
She then submitted that there is sufficient evidence against the accused for him to be committed to stand trial in the High Court.
Mr Chite having received the committal depositions adjourned the matter to October 4 for the ruling.
The accused was charged in relation to an incident in 2019 at a Village in North Guadalcanal.
Prosecution alleged he had unlawful sexual intercourse with his grandniece who was at that time only six years of age.
Ben Alasia of Public Solicitor’s Office represents the accused.
Lack of funds affects court circuits, CLAC hearings
LACK of funds allocated to the Magistrate’s Court has forced the cancellation of court circuits and Customary Land Appeal Court (CLAC) sitting for this year in the provinces.
A notice from the Chief Magistrate Emma Garo’s office reveals that due to this financial issue, all court circuits to the province and CLAC hearings for the remainder of this year have been cancelled.
“All Magistrates’ Court sittings at circuit locations in Western, Choiseul, Malaita, Isabel, Central, Guadalcanal and Rennell Bellona Provinces have been cancelled for the remainder of 2021,” the notice stated.
“Additionally all sittings of the Customary Land Appeal Court scheduled for November 2021 have also been cancelled.
“There has been insufficient funds allocated to the Magistrates’ Court to allow these events to be conducted as planned,” it added.
It also stated that all outstanding cases scheduled for a Magistrates’ Court circuit in the Provinces listed above or for the Customary Land Appeal Court will be re-listed for hearing in 2022.
PTC in former CDO’s case deferred
THE pre-trial conference on the matter of the former Constituency Development Officer (CDO) for Temotu Nende Constituency facing an official corruption charge was not conducted yesterday.
It was, however, further adjourned to October 6.
Public Prosecutor Samuel Tovosia is asking for more time to complete the pre-trial conference papers.
He told the court he was unable to complete the proposed pre-trial conference by yesterday and therefore needs further time.
Philip Tuplo’s lawyer also yesterday raised the issue regarding the evidence on which he stated there are insufficient evidences against his client.
Having heard from both counsels, Principal Magistrate Leonard Chite granted the adjournment to next week.
He then ordered prosecution to prepare the Pre-Trial-Conference drafts and send them to the defence counsel before the next date.
Tuplo was charged is relation to an allegation between 6 February 2013 and 19 September 2013.
Prosecution alleged that he misused a total of $58,500 for the payment of Project Materials under the Constituency Fund for Mebialo Housing Project in Santa Cruz.
It was alleged he used the monies to build his personal house.
Tuplo who is also from Mebialo was employed as the CDO for the Temotu Nende Constituency at the commission of the offence.
Charles Gabily Tanhimana of Whitlam K Togamae Lawyers is representing Tuplo.
