A mother and her son accused of obstructing Government Officers whilst doing their work at the evacuation camps during the recent flooding have denied the allegations.
Linda Agooka and her son Eddie pleaded not guilty to a total of 24 charges on Monday before Principal Magistrate Shepherd Lapo.
Both are facing six counts each of refusing to cooperate with Government officers during the state of Emergency and another six counts of obstructing Government Officers in due execution of their duties.
They were charged under the National Disaster Council Act.
These were in relation to allegations between April 10 and April 30, this year at the evacuation centre at the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) at Panatina, East Honiara.
The two accused were members of the Centre’s Internal Committee carrying titles of a Chairperson and a spokesman.
It was alleged that when Government Officers went to the evacuation centre, the two accused refused to speak to them and also influenced the flood victims at the centre not to listen to them.
After entering their pleas, the case was further adjourned to August 4, this year for a pre-trial-conference.
Agooka’s lawyer Leslie Kwaiga has asked the court to direct the police prosecution to seek proper legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and to ensure that they respond to his letters and phone calls.
He also argued that the evidence presented to him which was that of six witness statements did not support the 24 charges and that police need professional legal advice.
The defence also raised concerns of changes of prosecutors and would like to know who is prosecuting the case.
Since the beginning of the case, there had been three different prosecutors.
The court granted the applications made by the defence and further adjourned the matter.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
