THE Provincial Police Commander for Malaita Province, Alfred Uiga has denied making any calls for fugitive Edmond Sae to surrender.
Sae, who is hiding in the mountains of Malaita, is wanted for the killing of former police commissioner Sir Fredrick Soaki in 2003.
The Solomon Star on Wednesday 25 June did a page two story on Mr Uifa calling on Sae to surrender to police and face justice.
The article, which the paper says was based on a previous interview with Mr Uiga, also stated Mr Uiga conceding that plice have not called off any hunt for Sae, adding that Sae should hand himself in voluntarily rather than hide out in the bush.
The report also clearly stated that due to the sensitivity of the issue, Mr Uiga had refused to elaborate further on the matter for safety reasons.
Mr Uiga yesterday however denied the reports labelling it as fabricated and misleading.
“At no time did I say any of the things published in the article,” he said.
“If there is to be a call for Edmond Sae to surrender, it should be made from headquarters and from my superiors, not from me alone,” Mr Uiga said.
Mr Uiga, who is currently in Honiara on work commitment, also revealed that following the publication of the article this week, he has recieved threat messages by those believed to be close to the fugitive.
“I have recieved up to three threat messages and calls already as a result of the article.
“My safety is not guaranteed now that my name is in the report as being the one making the call for Edmond Sae to surrender,” Mr Uiga said.
He added that he should have already returned to Auki this week, however upon the publication of the article, police will first do a threat assessment to know if it is safe for the Malaita Provincial Police Commander to return.
Solomon Star meanwhile stands by its report as published.
Solomon Star reporter, Jeremy Inifiri said that he reported only of what was said during his interview with the Provincial Police Commander.
“I do not see anything wrong with the report.
“The whole report was just brief of the interview I had with Mr Uiga when asking him what the Malaita Police’s stand is on the issue of Edmond Sae.
“Mr Uiga briefly said what I had reported on, however did not want to elaborate further as he said such would put him and even myself at risk,” Mr Inifiri said.
