THE court has fixed new trial dates for the matter of the Police Officer accused of stealing the $300,000 kept as exhibit from the Police Facility at Rove in Honiara in 2020.
Principal Magistrate, Tearo Beneteti, yesterday set down a two-week trial, commencing 25 September this year.
The first trial set down for last November has been vacated after the prosecutor was sick.
Makasi Dolaiano is facing trial for one count of Stealing as a Clerk.
The prosecution alleged that Dolaiano stole $336,891.20 that was kept as exhibit for a trial in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court in October 2020.
They alleged the accused was one of the officers manning the exhibit facility at the time when the $300k went missing.
The $300k belonged to One Link Pacifica’s customers.
Police recovered the monies from One Link Pacific after they arrested the manager of the money investment scheme in April 2020.
The 300k was initially kept at the exhibit facility at the Central Police Station and then transferred to the Exhibit Facility at the Police Headquarters where it went missing.
Dolaiano denied the allegation and hence a trial will be conducted to establish the truthfulness of his denial.
George Gray of Public Solicitor’s Office is representing Dolaiano, whilst Public Prosecutor, Samuel Tovosia, is the prosecuting officer.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
