Couple’s rape judgement on Friday

THE couple accused of raping a girl in Gela, Central Province, in 2017 will know their fate when they appear in court on Friday. That is when Judge Leonard Maina will deliver his judgement on defendants George Solopoto and wife Elizabeth Koka. The judgement was listed to be delivered yesterday. However, the Registry Office informed the two defendants…

Seleso freed of election petition

HIGH Court Judge Howard Lawry has granted leave for the withdrawal of the petition filed against filed against Member of Parliament (MP) for South Guadalcanal Rollen Seleso. Gabriel Suri of Suri’s Law Practice, who represents the petitioner – former MP David Day Pacha – on Monday formally made the application to withdraw the petition after…

FAKE TEACHERS ON PAYROLL

APPROXIMATELY 1,000 teachers, have used fake certificates and transcripts to secure their teaching employment across the country, a source from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development revealed. The source said many of these teachers attached fake certificates and transcripts to their applications through the various Education Authorities in the country. The source said in Malaita, a significant number of teachers have been found…

Australia Awards short course launched 

The first Australia Awards Solomon Islands Short Course Award- a Graduate Certificate in Fisheries Management and Development- has officially launched.  Economic contributions, food security, and jobs creation makes fisheries a critical sector for Solomon Islands and all Pacific Island countries and territories. This Australia Awards Short Course is a collaboration between the University of Wollongong, Australian National…

Urgent call to strengthen gov’t grants after ESP audit reveals major fraud risks 

The Auditor General on Tuesday calls for the urgent strengthening of the legal and regulatory regime for the administration of government grants. David Dennis made the call after an audit into the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) revealed major fraud risk, poor to non-existent administrative controls and almost zero transparency in the disbursement of $309…

Wale urges police to probe ESP report

LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has called on the police to initiate immediate criminal investigations into the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) report. In a statement on Tuesday, Hon Wale said investigations must proceed with technical support for police in financial expertise for the investigations. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Aoke Langalanga said the report…

Suspicious death in West Honiara probed

The discovery of a male person in his 20s whose body was found at the seaside near Fangs company area at Tandai, in West Honiara on Sunday 6 October 2024 is under investigation. The suspicious death is now being investigated by National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF).  Provincial…