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Warrant of arrest issued for candidate

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Court Stories
A MAGISTRATE yesterday ordered the prosecution to execute the warrant of arrest issued for Northwest Guadalcanal candidate Charles Keku and others.

The order was made after Keku and co-accused Peter Pukuvati and John Tupe failed to turn up again yesterday in court.

Their lawyer Maelyn Bird of Crystal Lawyers was also unable to attend court due to illness.

The trio previously failed to attend court and a warrant of arrest was issued.

The matter has been previously fixed for trial on August 16 to 20.

Presiding Magistrate Emma Garo yesterday gave orders to the prosecutor in charge to execute the warrant.

Keku, Peter Pukuvati and John Tupe are each charged with count of interference with works and one count of illegal diversion of water.

The trio was alleged to have willfully interfered with works under control of SIWA in December last year at Kongulai water source.

It was further alleged that they wrongfully diverted water from the authority’s dam.

This was after their request to advance $17 million from SIWA in land rental was turned down.

The matter was adjourned to August 9 for mention and for confirmation of the trial date.

 

Alleged cop killer to take plea

A TAXI driver accused of stabbing an off duty police officer to death in early June this year was further remanded to August 16for a possible plea.

Walter Mani, from Malaita, is charged with one count of murder.

He was alleged to have stabbed the off duty officer in a taxi and then drop the officer’s body at the Western end of old Mataniko bridge, Honiara.

The alleged offence took place on June 9, this year about 6.45pm.

The matter was supposed to be for a plea yesterday but lawyer Nigel Galo sought a 14-day adjournment for disclosures.

He said the plea will be taken on the next court appearance.

Principal Magistrate Mekeo Gauli adjourned the matter and further remanded the accused.

 

 
Alleged arsonist refused bail

A MALAITA man accused of setting fire to bulldozers belonging to a Timber company in Marovo, Western Province, has been refused bail yesterday in the Magistrate's court.

This was after the prosecution objected to the bail application made by the accused’s lawyer.

John Makasi and his co-accused Jack Solomon are each facing one count of arson.

The alleged offences occurred at Havana village on 22 July 2008 where the accused were alleged to have set fire to Kalena Timber Company’s bulldozers.

Makasi is also facing an additional charge of assaulting and resisting police arrest.

He allegedly assaulted the police officer executing a warrant of arrest.

His lawyer Stanley Aupai during the bail application submits bail be granted for his client.

Mr Aupai said his client has two wives and six children.

He said once on bail, his accused will be residing with a priest who is working at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC).

He said Makasi for the past three months has been helping the priest in TRC programmes in the provinces.

But public prosecutor Jim Seuika objected to bail on grounds of absconding, seriousness of offending and interference.

“The accused absconded bail since 2009 and had just been arrested early July this year,” Mr Seuika said.

He said the accused also faces another charge when the warrant was executed last month.

The police, he said, will bear the consequences of looking for the accused.

 He strongly submits that bail be refused as arson is a serious charge under the Penal Code which carries a maximum penalty of lifetime.

The court heard that the accused also abscond giving his evidence in a murder trial in which he was the crown witness this year.

And for that a warrant has been also issued for him.

The prosecution submitted that the accused is not a person to be trusted.

Presiding Magistrate Mekeo Gauli told the court that the defence counsel has sought bail for the accused that he has two wives and six children but with no grounds.

Therefore the application for bail is refused and the accused further remanded in custody.

Since it was a Gizo matter, the court will be making an order to have the matter transferred back to Gizo for the setting of the trial date.

The matter was adjourned to August 16.

 

Court remands alleged rapist

A MAN accused of raping his niece at Bahai area, Honiara in 2005, has been further remanded to re-appear August 16.

The 26-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his niece, is charged with one count of rape.

He allegedly committed the offence on June 3 in 2005 at a location near the Bahai area.

The alleged victim was 21 years of age at that time.

Lawyer Solomon Kalu of the Public Solicitor’s Office said they required only one witness.

Police Prosecution however is seeking an adjournment to have the file transferred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Principal Magistrate Mekeo Gauli adjourned the matter to August 16 to allow the transfer of file to occur and for a date for the long form Preliminary Inquiry to be fixed.

The accused, who has been granted bail at a past appearance, was further remanded due to non payment of the cash bail.