The men accused of the armed bank robbery at the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) in Auki, Malaita Province will be entering their pleas to the charges against them on August 23.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi on Tuesday made the orders that this would be the last adjournment made to allow police to collect the remaining statements from witnesses.
She said after the accused entered their pleas, she will make direction for a pre-trial conference.
She said the matter has been adjourned for about eight months which is almost a year and investigations are not yet completed.
“This is the last adjournment.
“The additional disclosures will be provided to the defence counsels within the period of this adjournment whenever prosecution receives it.”
Public Prosecutor Bradley yesterday served a disclosure in relation to the call records from Telekom and added that prosecution will disclose three more statements.
He said police are now in the process of getting those statements from potential witnesses.
Mr Dalipanda sought a 14 days adjournment to allow prosecution to obtain those additional statements.
Ms Taeburi however said she was concern that the matter has been adjourned for a number of time now for the investigation to complete.
She told the prosecutor to push police officers in Auki to speed up the investigation.
Mr Dalipanda has told the court that investigation has been delayed because police have been looking for the firearm used in this alleged offending and for the substantial money stolen from the bank.
Lazarus Kwaiga of L & L Lawyers added that the defence begged the court to fast track this matter since it’s been eight months now.
He added that if police continue to fish for evidence but there is no evidence, then there is nothing else to fish for.
He added that there are about 40 plus witnesses’ statements and Telekom communication on file and he did not understand what more needs to be done.
The court and prosecution was also put on notice yesterday of intended bail applications to be made in court next for two of the accused.
Patrick Talo, Peter Eto Kafa, Solomon Wadily, John Kiki, Nelson Ausolo, are accused of robbing the Auki BSP bank on the morning of 27 November last year.
Prosecution alleged some of the men were armed with firearms and fired a shot before they went into the bank.
They allegedly filled up bags with about (SBD) $200,000 and (US) $10,000 while one of them was standing guard outside the bank.
Prosecution further alleged that before they took off from the bank, another gun shot was fired.
They were all also allegedly wearing masks at that time.
Mr Kwaiga represents Kiki and Ausolo while Public Solicitor’s Lawyers, Sarah Karani, Ben Alasia, and Jenny Namo represented the rest.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
