Police say investigation into $4m bank robbery continues
POLICE investigation into the $4 million daylight robbery outside Westpac Bank, Point Cruz, last month is still continuing.
Police prosecutor David Tepai yesterday told the court investigation is still ongoing and that disclosures are yet to be provided to the defence counsel.
Allan Tinoni of Public Solicitor’s Office however, sought disclosures to be served earlier so instructions can be taken from the accused.
He said he had just been given the file on Monday and lawyers are yet to be allocated for each of the accused.
The four accused Dudley Baemalea, Patteson Amos Otokwai, Jonathan Wanefiolo and Stanley Waneakwasia appeared in court but were further remanded in custody.
They will return to the court again on February 25.
Prosecution was ordered to provide part of the disclosures they have available to the defence counsel before that date.
The four men are facing one count each of robbery.
A fifth person, whom police believed is the prime suspect, is still at large.
The men were accused of the robbing about $4 million after chopping off a security guard’s wrist between 10 am and 11 am on January 26, this year.
The securities from the private firm, Alert Protective Service, were carrying two suitcases containing the $4 million from the bank to a waiting vehicle parked outside the bank when they were attacked.
They then took off with the money in a car, heading in a westerly direction at very high speed.
Police and the public gave chase, resulting in it crashing at Kakabona.
It was alleged that after overturning, five men came out from the car with knives and threatened anyone that goes closer to them.
They were chased by Kakabona residents when police told them that the
five were suspected robbers.
Police recovered $3.7 million but more than 200,000 is still missing.
Police arrested three of the men at Kakabona while the fourth was nabbed at his home in east Honiara the next day.
The four men voluntarily admitted their involvement in the incident when police interviewed them.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
