A RULING on the no-case- to- answer submission made for Malaita Provincial Assembly Member for West Baegu-Fataleka Ward and a former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and his political adviser Celsius Talifilu, will be delivered in court on October 20.
Suidani and Talifilu each face two counts of Unlawful Assembly, relating to alleged protests and unlawful gatherings that took place in Auki, the Malaita Provincial capital, in 2021.
At that time, Suidani was serving as Premier of Malaita Province, while Talifilu was his political advisor.
Trial was conducted last month in the Honiara Magistrate Court during which the prosecution called three witnesses.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence counsel submitted that the two accused had no case to answer, arguing the evidence was insufficient to support the charges.
The court’s ruling on the no-case submissions will determine whether the accused must present their defence or have the charge dismissed.
The protest in question was allegedly organised by the Malaita for Democracy (M4D) movement in response to the former Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCGA) decision to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
The accused have engaged Justlaw Attorneys, while Special Prosecutor Mary-Anne Zurenuoc from the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecutions (ODPP) appears for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
