THE Honiara Magistrate court has granted a final adjournment to allow police execute a warrant of arrest on a man facing an indecent act charge, and failure to make an arrest with result in the withdrawal of the case.
The defendant, Ani Alphonse, is facing one count of Indecent Act without Consent.
This is in relation to an incident on 7 April 2025, where he allegedly touched the complainant’s breast without her consent.
The warrant was issued after the defendant failed to appear in court on 28 April this year.
However, the police have yet to execute the warrant of arrest on the defendant.
During the review of the arrest warrant this week, the prosecution informed the court that they had followed up with the police regarding the execution of the arrest warrant.
The prosecution stated that police at the White River Police Station, did not execute the arrest warrant because they only have two vehicles, and one of the vehicles has mechanical problems.
As a result, no attempts were made to locate and execute the arrest warrant on the defendant.
The presiding magistrate expressed her disappointment about the non-execution of the arrest warrant, saying the explanation provided sound unrealistic.
She said it is over three months now and the police are yet to execute the arrest warrant, with their explanation that one of their vehicles has mechanical problems.
The magistrate, however, granted a three- month adjournment to November 18, giving the police ample time to execute the warrant of arrest.
The magistrate stated that on the next date, prosecution should consider withdrawing the charge against the defendant if the arrest warrant is not executed and reinstate the charge when the defendant is re-arrested.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
