THREE men accused of burgling properties worth over $42,000 and cash worth $334,000 from a room in a building at Fangs compound at Tandai in West Honiara will appear in court again on October 16.
That is for possible plea.
Brothers Joe Malau 30, and Matthew Malau, 33, together with Frank Firimolea, 36, were jointly charged with one count of Burglary.
Police arrested Firimolea recently and had him remanded in custody, whilst the Malaus who were earlier arrested by police have been released on bail.
Bobby Harunari of the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO), who also represents John, was also to represent Firimolea.
However, due to the issue of conflict of interest, Mr Harunari will not represent Firimolea. Thus, the matter will be allocated to another lawyer in the PSO.
After hearing the matter on Wednesday, Magistrate Dalcy Belapitu Oligari adjourned it to October 16 for possible plea.
The adjournment was made to give time for the PSO to allocate a lawyer to Firimolea.
Magistrate Oligari said if Firimolea is allocated a lawyer on the next court date, then all the defendants will take their plea.
The alleged incident occurred on 10 June this year.
The victim was still inside his shop JX Enterprise when the three defendants drove into the eastern gate of the Fangs area in a white caldina car.
They parked the car and went upstairs and entered the building after damaging the door lock.
They went inside the room and removed cartons of bro cigarettes, Pall Mall cigarettes, solbako, two Huawei mobile phones and cash worth $334,000 before escaping back into the car.
The total cost of all the properties removed that night was $42,200.
The defendants already left the scene before the security officer’s wife and another Chinese female discovered that the building was entered.
They alerted the police and the Malaus were arrested at around 10 pm after the incident, whilst Firimolea escaped with a huge amount of money.
During the interview with police, the defendant Joe confessed his involvement with Firimolea.
Police continued searching for Firimolea but could not locate him until August 26 when they sighted him at Foxwood and arrested him.
Ron Dicky Pulekera of PSO is representing Matthew, whilst Public Prosecutor Monica Rehomora is appearing for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
