A third bail application made for two of the men accused of the armed robbery at the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) in Auki last year, has been refused.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo yesterday refused bail for John Kiki and Nelson Ausolo fearing they might influence investigation and the trial.
“The nature of the allegations against the two applicants suggests if it is true, they may well take steps to influence the investigation and the trial.
“Particularly, the interference of police witnesses in their investigation, substantial value of money has not been recovered as well as the recovery of the weapons used in the incident.”
The court also heard Kiki has an outstanding warrant of arrest in relation to a separate matter for failure to attend court,
Mr Lapo said that behaviour clearly demonstrated Kiki will abscond and not attend his trial if he is given bail.
Private Lawyer Lazarus Kwaiga applied for bail on behalf of the two.
He also said his clients were in custody since December 2015 and it is now over five months.
Mr Kwaiga also submitted that previous bail applications were refused based on the police investigations which are still continuing and another accused is still at large.
He submitted that the investigation is now about to complete and all accused are now arrested and argued that police investigations should not be a bar to the bail application given that his clients are innocent until proven guilty by the court.
Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda however refused the bail application.
He submitted that police investigation will now go into the remote areas in the middle of the northern part of the Malu’u area, Malaita province to collect and record statements of the witnesses after the arrest of the last suspect, Peter Kafa Eto.
He said although police had finally arrested the fifth suspect of the matter, the evidence to be recorded from the witnesses from the remote part of northern Malaita requires extensive time for the police investigation team in Malaita to complete it.
Mr Dalipanda told the court this is a serious case which involved armed ammunition used to rob the only BSP bank that provides services to the people of Malaita Province.
He further submitted that when the bank closed, it affected the services to people, business houses and provincial government.
“These two applicants are not the good candidates to grant bail to because the arms are still not recovered as well as the stolen money.”
The court heard these two accused refused to cooperate with police in their investigation.
Lastly, he submitted that the court should take note that the involvement by police operation in this matter has incurred huge costs to the State so far and it will further cost the State until the investigation is completed.
The court will tomorrow hear the bail application of another accused, Patrick Talo which will be made on his behalf by his lawyer George Gray of Public Solicitor’s Office.
Meanwhile all other accused, Kiki, Ausolo, Eto and Solomon Wadily will return to the Honiara Magistrates Court again on June 29.
Prosecution was ordered to update the defence counsels and the court on the status of police investigation.
This was after the defence raised the issue of the on-going investigation requesting a proper written update of investigation to be made by the prosecution.
The men are accused of robbing the Auki BSP bank on the morning of 27 November last year.
Prosecution alleged Ausolo was armed with a firearm and fired a shot before Talo and another co-accused still at large allegedly went into the bank and filled up bags with about (SBD) $200,000 and (US) $10,000.
Ausolo was allegedly standing guard outside of the bank.
Prosecution further alleged that before they took off from the bank, another shot was fired.
They were said to be wearing masks at that time.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
