A MAN facing multiple charges relating to false pretences offences will be taking his plea in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court this week.
Darwin Kopana faces two counts of obtaining credit by false pretence, two counts of false pretence, one count of driving to be licensed and one count of malicious injuries.
His matter was listed for plea before Principal Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa.
On a previous court date, it was heard that investigation into this matter was already completed.
The case involves two separate incidents.
In the first incident on November 2024, Kopana allegedly deceived a 60-year-old woman by renting two rooms from her Tandai Heights, promising to pay $5,000 per month.
He then borrowed money and a phone from the woman, claiming he needed them for a sick aunt.
However, he disappeared with the phone and money.
In the second incident in January this year, Kopana allegedly posed as “Peter John” on Facebook and showed interest in buying a Land Cruiser Prado from a second complainant.
He convinced the seller to let him use the vehicle temporarily, claiming he needed it for paperwork related to a royalty of $165,000.
Later that day, Kopana called the complainant and told him the vehicle had a break issues that he almost had an accident.
The complainant insisted he returned the vehicle but Kopana told the complainant to trust him and that he parked the vehicle at the company area at Capital Park in East Honiara.
Kopana further told the complainant that the royalty was slow and that he would receive the payment the next day on 21 January 2025.
On 21st January 2025 the defendant called the complainant and again informed him that the royalty was delayed.
The complainant then drove to Capital Park to check the vehicle but could not see it.
On 22nd January the defendant called the complainant and informed him to wait for him at the Mendana Hotel.
The complainant waited there for hours, but the defendant did not show up.
He made several calls but the defendant did not answer.
It was later that day that the complainant found out himself that his vehicle was damaged from an accident at Cross road.
The complainant went and reports the matter to White River Police on the 26th of January 2025. Following the report, police arrested the defendant and remanded him.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
