* Mua’s trials awaits Witness’ health status
* Illegal Casino file with prosecutor
* Naurua’s ruling delayed
Mua’s trials awaits Witness’ health status
PROSECUTION will be updating the court tomorrow on their position regarding the health status of their final witness in the trial on the matter of the outgoing Member of Parliament (MP), Dickson Mua.
Mua is standing trial for one count of conversion for allegedly diverting $3million shipping grant intended to purchase a ship for his constituency in 2013.
It was alleged Mua converted the $3million meant for the ship, for other uses.
The court was informed yesterday that prosecution’s final witness, whom is the supplier, is currently overseas for medical reason.
Prosecution had so far called 10 witnesses who testified in court while they tendered by consent the statement of one of their witnesses.
The matter will be brought back to the court tomorrow where prosecution will be updating the court on their status regarding the issue of their final witness.
Lesley Kwaiga of L & L Lawyers represents Mua while Public Prosecutor Sirepu Ramosaea is appearing for the Crown.
Illegal Casino file with prosecutor
THE file of the man accused of operating an illegal casino at the Capital Park, East Honiara last December is now with the prosecutor.
Public Prosecutor, Patricia Tabepuda confirmed to the court recently when the matter was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court.
She appeared with the file in court but added that the file is yet to be allocated to a prosecutor.
On a previous court mention, she appeared without the file and asked for more time to allow the police investigators to hand over the file to the prosecution.
The defence counsel was handed only partial disclosures as investigation into this matter is still ongoing.
The matter will return to court again on February 8.
Ngie Kwong Pau, of Malaysia is facing one count of unlawful possession of instruments of gaming, was mentioned in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court this week.
Police arrested Pau following a raid conducted on the night of 22 December 2018.
This was for allegedly operating an illegal casino at the Capital Park, East Honiara.
Police last November applied for a search warrant based on a formal complaint from the Solomon Islands Gaming and Lotteries Board on 30 November 2018.
The L & L Lawyers is representing Pau.
Naurua’s ruling delayed
THE ruling on the no case to answer submission on the matter of a man accused of the murder of the former beauty contestant at Noro, Western Province has been further moved to today.
This was because the presiding Judge, Justice Leonard Maina is busy hearing cases.
Deputy Public Solicitor, George Gray had made the no case to answer submission at the end of the prosecution case.
The trial was held in Gizo, Western Province during the High Court circuit there.
Joshua Naurua is accused of the murder of the former beauty contestant on the early hours of 1 March 2015 at Back Way settlement in Noro.
Prosecution alleged that Naurua earlier met the deceased at a nightclub in Noro.
It was alleged that afterwards, the deceased, her cousin sister’s friend and the accused went in a taxi and dropped off nearer to a construction site.
The alleged deceased was allegedly intending to return home, to Back Way Settlement.
It was then alleged that at that time, it started to rain and not long after, there was a heavy down pour.
The deceased’s cousin and their friend allegedly ran to the security tent manned by security personnel while the accused allegedly walked the deceased on the road that passed the construction site, towards Back Way Settlement.
The body of the deceased was found further down on a slope at 1pm on 1 March 2015, at the location where she was allegedly last seen with the accused.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ronald Bei Talasasa is prosecuting.
