Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Western Province arrested a 22-year-old man at the Kolombangara Forestry Plantation Limited (KFPL) on Kolombangara Island in Western Province last week for alleged robbery and wounding of another man.

It will be alleged in Court that in the early hours of 25 June 2019 the 22-year-old man entered a tent in which the victim (male person) and his group of contractors were sleeping and attempted to remove a bag believed to contain some money which was around the neck of the victim.

It is alleged the victim woke up and both men became involved in a struggle. It was during the struggle that the 22-year-old man allegedly wounded the victim with a knife. The man ran away after the contactors woke up.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) of Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “The 22-year-old man was arrested on 26 June 2019 after the matter was reported to my officers at the Ringgi Police Station.”

“The man faces two counts being for robbery pursuant to section 293 (1) (a) of the Penal Code , and for unlawful wounding pursuant to section 229 of the same Code. These charges carry maximum penalties ranging from life and five years’ imprisonment if found guilty by the court,” PPC Lenialu explains.

The man was remanded at the Gizo Correctional Service Solomon Islands Centre since 26 June 2019, and is expected to appear in the Gizo Magistrates Court in 14 days’ time.

Source: RSIPF