A PRE-trial conference on the case of three individuals accused of scamming $4,800 from people seeking work in Australia will be held in court on May 14.
Trial dates will also be set on that date.
The defendants, Joe Rex Raukaniu, 38, Shirly Fa’aitoa and Elsie Nagive are jointly charged with one count of False Pretence.
Raukaniu is also facing two additional counts of False Pretence charge.
They have all pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The matter was initially listed for a pre-trial conference and the setting of trial dates yesterday.
However, it was heard that Raukaniu’s lawyer had just responded to the pre-trial conference documents on the morning of the initial hearing so parties are yet to settle the PTC documents.
Public Prosecutor Selwyn Vaike also told the court that for the setting of the trial dates, all parties must be present.
The matter was then adjourned to May 14 for the pre-trial conference and for the setting of the trial dates.
Prosecution alleged that Raukaniu who claimed to be a recruiting agent and his two co-workers allegedly committed the offences in 2023.
According to the prosecution, the defendants worked together to deceive people, collecting $4,800 from individuals who wanted their names included on the list of workers bound for Australia.
However, the complainants reported the defendants to the police after receiving no response from the defendants of application to work in Australia.
Raukaniu is engaging Bitibule Kaehuna of Rano & Company.
The two other defendants are represented by Bobby Harunari and Rochelle Palmer of Public Solicitor’s Office respectively.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
