* Alleged fraudster’s trial to commence March
* 14 months for trying to stab security officer
* Sentence next for three-tonne driver
Alleged fraudster’s trial to commence March
HEARING of evidence into the case of a man accused of faking his own death and obtaining $76,000 from a local pharmacist in Honiara will commence next month.
Peter Fakaia is facing trial on three counts of false pretenses.
His matter was mentioned last week for an interim mention and he will appear for his last interim mention on February 26 before the trial commences on March 1.
The trial is listed for five days.
The alleged incidents in this matter occurred between 21 and 26 September 2019 in Honiara.
It was alleged that Fakaia sought medication at the People’s Pharmacy at the Kwaimani building at Kukum.
Having been allegedly given medication, Fakaia left but then return to the pharmacy the next day complaining of allergies.
He was then given another medication and advised to see a doctor.
On 23 September at about 8 am, the complainant received a call through his office phone by a person who allegedly purported himself as the accused’s brother-in-law.
The complainant was informed by the accused’s brother-law that the accused he diagnosed died at the National Referral Hospital and was at the morgue.
The accused’s brother-in-law then allegedly demanded a compensation of $10, 000 for the cause of the death.
The complainant in total allegedly gave $76,000 to the so-called relatives of the accused of the accused’s death.
It was on 26 September that the accused contacted the police after finally realising that he might have been set up by the accused.
The next day, police arrested a person who came to collect the last portion of money requested for the accused’s death.
Using the accused’s alleged associates; police finally arrested the accused after halting him in his vehicle at the Ranadi Roundabout.
Private lawyer Ben Etomea represents Fakaia while Public Prosecutor Jonathan Auga is prosecuting
14 months for trying to stab security officer
THE man who tried to stab a security officer several times with a screwdriver at a shop at Point Cruz in 2019 has been sent to jail for 14 months, Monday.
Joseph Mate was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of acts intended to cause grievous harm.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea in his sentencing remarks said this kind of behaviour must be condemned and deterred with the imposition of an appropriate sentence.
“The factors that aggravate the offending are that the accused was drunk when he committed the offense,” Iomea said.
“It is a common knowledge that excessive alcohol consumption seemed to be one of the causes of anti-social or unlawful behaviors which affected other innocent members of the community,” he added.
The victim was carrying cargoes with other colleagues outside the WM shop at Point Cruz on 14 June 2019.
At around 6 pm, they were still loading cargoes onto a bus parked outside the shop when Mate came, grabbed one of the victim’s female colleagues from behind, and pressed her breasts.
The victim’s colleague screamed and tried to remove Mate’s hands but could not do so.
Two others of the victim’s female colleagues seeing what happened shouted at Mate.
Mate in turn got angry, went into the shop, and used abusive words at them.
Mate was walking out of the shop when he saw the security officer at the entrance of the shop and pulled out a screwdriver.
He tried to stab the security officer several times but the security officer defended himself and knocked out the screwdriver from Mate.
The shop assistants were afraid and rang the police who came and escorted Mate to the Central Police Station.
Mate was later arrested and charged with this offense.
He was also charged with indecent act without consent and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in relation to this same incident.
He was already sentenced to six months in jail last September after pleading guilty to the two charges.
In relation to the current charge, Iomea had imposed a starting point of 18 months imprisonment.
He then had four months deducted to reflect Mate’s guilty plea and for being a first time offender.
The sentence was backdated to when Mate was first remanded in custody.
Public Solicitor’s lawyer George Taedi represents Mate while Public Prosecutor Hellen Naqu appeared for the Crown.
Sentence next for three-tonne driver
SENTENCE for the driver of a three-tonne accused that hit and killed a man at the Tenaru Market last September will be delivered on February 9.
Ralph Saea had pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by reckless or dangerous driving and one count of the presence of alcohol in a person’s blood.
His matter was listed before the Honiara Magistrate’s Court for sentence, Monday.
However, Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison was feeling unwell and therefore did not attend court.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea mentioned and adjourned this matter on Hollison’s behalf.
Saea was charged in relation to the incident on 26 September 2020 at around 8.00 am at the Corona Market at Tenaru area.
This incident involved a two and a three-tonne truck.
The deceased who is the driver of the two-tonne truck was travelling in a westerly direction and stopped in front of the market.
He parked the vehicle on the left side of the road and went out to buy betel-nut.
He then returned and stood in front of his truck when the three-tonne truck driven by the accused heading in the easterly direction, veered off into the opposite lane and hit the deceased.
The deceased transported to the National Referral Hospital but died on the way.
A lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office represents Saea while Public Prosecutor Nickson Tonowane is appearing for the Crown.
