A MAN accused of stealing gold ashes worth $2.6million from his boss’s vehicle outside of the Bred Bank at Kukum, East Honiara will enter his plea on May 23.
Peter Olben, 25, is facing one count of Simple Larceny.
He was finally arrested on March 18, at Ranadi, East Honiara, after evading police arrest for six months.
He joins two other defendants, Max Gura and his wife Miriam Keni Sasau who are also facing a Simple Larceny charge.
The couple, who are now on bail, also face an additional charge of Possession of Police Properties.
They had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and their matter is pending Pre-Trial Conference on May 23 as well.
Last week, Donation Houa, from the Public Solicitor’s Office who represents all defendants, suggested consolidating Olben’s matter with the couple’s matter so that they can have joint pre-trial conference.
Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly, however, adjourned the matter and told Houa he can make the amendments later, pending Olben’s pleas.
It was alleged that on 24 September 2024, Olben stole a bag containing 8,992.10 grams of gold ashes while accompanying the complainant and his sister to the Bred Bank in Kukum to make a deposit.
The deposit was for the facilitation for the export of 8,992.10 grams of gold ashes.
Olben who waited inside the vehicle stole the bag containing the gold ashes and escaped, when the complainant and his sister went inside the bank.
A search was ensured, and the complainant filed a report with the police.
After the theft, Olben allegedly boarded a bus and went to Lungga, Guadalcanal, where he met Gura and told him about the gold ashes.
Gura allegedly helped Olben escaped from police and even transported him in his vehicle.
In his record of interview with the police, Olben admitted seeing the gold ashes in a red basket in the complainant’s vehicle and deciding to steal it.
He also confessed to police that Gura told him to see a witchcraft so police would not catch them both.
Gura told him to hide away and that he would sell the gold, buy land and build a house, and buy a vehicle for him.
Olben further confessed that Gura told him if police found them, he would use some money to pay them off.
He also admitted that he and the couple sold portions of the stolen gold ashes to a gold buyer at Holiday Resort and collected $160,000.
Olben also told police he gave portions of gold to his uncle who is a priest, and to other people.
The defendants allegedly used the stolen gold ashes to purchase vehicles, land and other properties.
On December 5, 2024, police executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence and found a small bottle containing gold ashes and $6,317.60 in cash, and police uniforms.
The uniforms consisted of a dark blue RSIPF cargo pant, one RSIPF Fire Service EMT dark blue long-sleeved station wear, a 511 blue tactical pant and one black OST police raincoat
The couple was arrested on 4 December 2024, while trying to board MV Ocean Joy.
Prosecutor Iete Tebakota is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
