STEPHEN HOKIWASI – the man credited with Solomon Islands’ latest home-grown scam – is under police radar, sources told Solomon Star last night.
According to information obtained by Solomon Star, Mr. Wasi had allegedly collected more than $7.8 million in bank and other fees from his 1, 038-member followers.
Sources said some of the people who had left the group met with police on Monday and again yesterday.
“Police have been given all the information about Mr. Wasi’s fund-raising activities as well as the spreadsheet which contains a list of contributors, who were promised trillions of dollars in return for their investment.
“Police have shown keen interest in the matter and are closely examining the payments that Mr. Wasi had collected over the years,” the sources said.
In a recent media statement, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) urged members of the public not to get involved, describing the scheme as a scam. It also described Sol-York, the alleged currency being used to transact funding support as a “fake currency.”
According to details in the spreadsheet, individual contributors are promised millions in return for their investment. These individuals have provided details of their bank accounts to be credited once the funds have come through.
A former member who spoke on condition of anonymity said this week police should move in to investigate the scheme before more people lose their savings.
Mr. Wasi’s group has 1, 038 members, according to the spreadsheet.
One other individual described the group as a religious movement.
“They would gather every Sunday afternoon to sing and worship in a particular house in West Honiara. When they are in that situation, money simply flows freely,” the man said.
“The group simply worships Mr. Wasi,” he said.
Mr. Wasi is said to be from South Malaita. It is not clear whether his group is associated with or linked to the One Link Pacifica quick money making scheme, whose owner, Charles Dora, is also from Small Malaita.
Dora appeared in the Magistrates Court yesterday. He was accused of registering One Link Pacifica on 4th July 2019, without applying for a business licence to engage in business banking in Solomon Islands.
It was alleged a large number of people invested some $56 million in Dora’s failed scheme.
By ALFRED SASAKO
Newsroom, Honiara
