NINE men including a church pastor accused of attacking a man and his properties at Bonalo Village in Savo, Central Island Province early this year, have denied the allegations.
The defendants are Pastor Bernard Bane, 34, Albert Ramo, 21, Rolland Fiu, 41, Junior Rollin, 27, and Charles Bane, 75, Jacob Gore, 47, Patterson Lugasia, 38, Thomas Fenli, 37, and David Bane, 35.
They appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea yesterday where they all pleaded not guilty to the charges of Criminal Trespass and Malicious Damage.
Following their not guilty pleas, DCM Iomea adjourned their matter to May 17 for pre-trial conference and possible setting of trial dates.
Rollin who faces an additional charge of Possession of Firearm will take his plea to the charge on the next court date.
His lawyer Rochelle Palmer of Public Solicitor’s Office wanted to negotiate with the prosecutor regarding the agreed facts first before Rollin takes his plea.
Ms Palmer also indicated in court she will be filing bail applications for her clients who all in custody anytime before the next date.
Prosecution alleged Pastor Bane led the eight accused from Malaita to Savo on the evening of 22 February 2024.
The men allegedly trespassed into the area of the complainant and then destroyed his properties.
Rollin was allegedly armed with a homemade pistol at that time.
Prosecution alleged the incident arise from an earlier incident where the community in Savo was not happy with Pastor Bane.
This was over claims Pastor Bane received some money from their outgoing MP but did not share it with his community in Savo.
As a result, the complainant and others in their community told the pastor and his wife to leave their community.
They claimed that since he (pastor) married their sister, he was so dominant over the family and the community and they did not benefit from him and the MP.
The pastor and his wife left the community to Honiara and later he sent back his wife to collect some church properties.
That was when the people in the community told the pastor’s wife to leave the church properties so that they could be used for church programs.
It has been alleged that the pastor who was disappointed then teamed up with eight defendants and went to Savo where they committed the offences on the complainant.
Pastor Bane, Ramo, Fiu, Rollin and Charles Bane were further remanded in custody whilst bails were extended for the other four defendants.
Rochelle’s colleague Bobby Harunari represents the four defendants who are on bail.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
