Pre-trial hearing in fraud case

A PRE-TRIAL conference will be conducted next on the case of the man who allegedly defrauded the government of $7.3 million from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika fixed 11 May for the pre-trial conference. John Biliki, 45, of Choiseul had earlier denied the charges against him. The charges were…

Rape trial aborted

A MAN facing a rape and buggery/unnatural sex charge at the High Court has been acquitted yesterday after the girl changed her story. This would be the second rape case this month that has been acquitted because the alleged victim decided to change her story. The matter was listed for trial before Chief Justice Sir…

Graveyard rape trial starts

A RAPE trial will commence today in the High Court in relation to an incident that occurred at the Kola’a Ridge grave yard, Honiara in 2013. Peter Kaoni is facing one count of rape for allegedly raping a girl at the Kola’a Ridge grave yard. He denied the allegation and a trial was listed for…

Sales of salt fish to be banned

SELLING of salt fish at the Honiara central market will be banned when the main market reopens tomorrow. The Honiara City Council and Honiara Central Market Management agreed to this following a meeting yesterday. Honiara Central Market Master Saxon Ofata told the Solomon Star on Tuesday saying the sales of salt fish will be prohibited…

ROC navy squadron on Goodwill visit

At the invitation of the Government of Solomon Islands, a three vessel fleet of the ROC (Taiwan) navy midshipmen cruising training squadron will grace our shores next week. To be led by Commander Rear Admiral Yu-Pin Lin, the navy squadron will arrive in Honiara on Monday morning. The brief visit will be for three days.…

Lands Minister vows to fight corruption

THE Minister of Lands, Housing & Survey (MLHS) has told Parliament he will work hard to get rid of corrupt practises within the Ministry. Andrew Manepora’a told the house his Ministry is one of the government agencies with a common public portrayal of unethical behaviour topping the government corruption chart. While the Minister applauded his…

Main market reopens tomorrow

Honiara’s central market will reopen for normal services tomorrow following complaints from market vendors. This was confirmed by the Honiara Central Market Master Saxon Ofata. The main market has been closed for an indefinite period last week to allow the market management carried out renovation and improvement work within the market facility. Mr Ofata yesterday…