Police in the Western Province have commended relatives of a victim in a recent assault incident for not taking the law into their own hands but allowing the matter to go before the court.
On 13 January 2018 Police in Munda arrested and charged a prominent local business man and his son for assaulting a 65-year-old man. Relatives of the victim, who is still admitted at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, had demanded a substantial amount of money as compensation. Following police intervention the relatives accepted a much reduced amount which the businessman had already paid.
“I want to thank the relatives of the victim in this case, who refrained from taking the law into their own hands and listened to the police who advised them to allow the matter to be investigated and dealt with by the courts,” says Provincial Police Commander, Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu.
PPC Lenialu adds: “I fully understand the initial reaction of our people to such incidences but as a country we much continue to move forward and respect the laws of our country.”
The businessman and his son appeared in the Gizo Magistrates Court on 22 January 2018 and were released on strict bail conditions. They will reappear in court on 19 February 2018. Both have been charged with grievous harm.
– Police Media
