THE case of the three men charged in relation to the gun that was found inside a vehicle in Honiara in May this year has been withdrawn yesterday.
Prosecution withdrew the charges of possession of firearm without licence and possession of ammunition (bullets) without licence against Eddie Iro Kwanairara, 41, Willie Laukene Nunu and Jimmy Baoda, 28 under section 190 (2) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
This was because police are yet to verify the gun if it was functional and the bullets if they are live ones.
Police Prosecutor John Palmer yesterday told the court that the country does not have certified armourers who can verify the gun and bullets.
As a result of this, he applied to have the charges withdrawn.
In the meantime, he said he will be liaising with responsible authorities on how to bring in a certified person to deal with that issue.
Mr Palmer said once this is done, then prosecution will reinstate the charges against the three accused.
Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga, who heard the application from the prosecution, granted the application for the withdrawal.
The gun and live bullets were found inside the vehicle alleged to be owned by the accused Baoda.
Kwanairara and 29-year-old Nunu were alleged to be the ones using the vehicle on the early hours of May 1st in Honiara when police arrested them.
Police arrested Kwanairara and Nunu who were travelling in the car after police found the firearm, live bullets and a knife inside the vehicle.
Prosecution alleged Baoda had the firearm in his possession since 2016.
Baoda in his record of interview with police admitted he is the owner of the car.
He also told police he found the firearm and ammunition last year and since then the firearm was placed in the booth of the car whilst the ammunition were placed inside the car between the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat.
Ronald Dive of Ron Law is representing Baoda and representing Kwanairara and Nunu is Public Solicitor’s lawyer Leonard Chite.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
