Closing subs on firearm defers to Nov 26
Closing submissions on the matter of a man accused of possessing firearm in his vehicle in Honiara last June had been deferred to November 26.
The hearing of the closing submissions was supposed to be made on Monday.
However, Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison who had just returned from a court circuit in the province adjourned the closing submissions.
Alfred Maefalea was tried in a trial for one count of possessing firearm
The trial saw two prosecution witnesses giving evidence for the prosecution case while Maefalea gave evidence for the defence case.
Police arrested Maefalea after they found a firearm in the back boot of his car on the early hours on 6 June last year.
The accused was sleeping inside his car parked on the footpath beside the road at Guzo point when police approached his car.
Police were on a routine patrol when they sighted the accused’s car.
Police alleged the car seems suspicious so they stopped and checked on the car.
They discovered the driver’s door was opened and the accused who was believed to be drunk was allegedly asleep on the driver’s seat.
They also discovered a modified .22 firearm wrapped in a bag in the boot of the accused’s vehicle.
The accused was then arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station.
Daniel Kwalai of Public Solicitor’s Office represents Maefalea while Public Prosecutor Samuel Tovosia is appearing for the Crown.
Senior police officer faces trial for indecent assault
TRIAL on the case of an on-suspension police officer facing charges of indecent assault and drinking in a moving vehicle will continue today.
The hearing of evidences started on Monday before Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga.
Two witnesses had already testified via audio visual link from the Provinces.
All six prosecution witnesses are based in Lata and Gizo.
The other four witnesses will also give evidence via the audio visual link.
The officer is on trial for one count of indecent assault and one count of drinking in a moving vehicle.
The indecent assault incident happened in 2018 at a school staff house on Santa Cruz, Temotu.
The alleged victim is a senior public servant based in Lata.
Prosecution alleged the incident occurred between 6 and 7pm, after the school’s end year graduation program.
The traffic indent relates to an allegation in 2019 in Lata, Santa Cruz.
Public Solicitor’s lawyer Stanley Aupai represents the accused while Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu is prosecuting.
Trial on mining row starts
FIVE men accused of damaging properties belonging to a number of families in Jejevo Village, Isabel Province over a mining row in March will face trial commencing today.
The hearing will start before Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison at 2pm today.
Jimmy Taea, Tony Godwin, Hamilton Puza, Joseph Sago and Steward Gift are each facing one count of going arm in public, 13 counts of willful and unlawful damage and three counts of simple larceny.
The alleged incident occurred on 8 March 2021 between 2pm and 3pm at Jejevo Village, on which, the men denied the allegations.
It was said that the Jejevo community and the security firm providing security for the Sunshine Mining Company Limited once had a resolution through dialogue and agreed to varnish off their differences.
And that is for the Sunshine Mining Company Limited to stop its operation whilst waiting for the outcome for the court’s decision on 12 April 2021.
Prosecution alleged that the request was respected at first but a week later it was alleged that the mining company operated again and this had again sparked problems.
This allegedly resulted in Jejevo community getting hold on three petrol drums belonging to the mining company with the understanding that this would halt the company operation.
However, it was alleged that on 8 March this year, about 20 men including this five accused left Furona and went to Jejevo armed with weapons such as knives, spear guns, spears, axes and rocks.
They allegedly went and destroyed a number of properties belonging to 13 families in Jejevo Village.
They also allegedly stole properties of three people.
The total value of properties destroyed is $350,000 while the total value of the stolen items is more than $67,000.
