Four men have been convicted and sent to prison for a total of more than three years after being found guilty of assaulting police officers, offensive behaviour at police premises and disobeying lawful order during a Court circuit sitting at Yandina, in the Central Province from 21 – 27 September 2020.
The charges relate to an incident on 11 May 2020 during which the group of men attacked three police officers at the Yandina Police Station.
The first defendant was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for assaulting a police officer, one month imprisonment for offensive behaviour and two months imprisonment for disobeying a lawful order. The sentences will be served concurrently which means he will serve two years in prison.
The second defendant was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment for assaulting a police officer.
The third defendant was convicted and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment for offensive behaviour and the fourth defendant was convicted and sentenced to one month imprisonment for offensive behaviour. The third and fourth defendants were convicted and released from custody as they have already served their sentences during the period of their remand.
RSIPF Operation Manager at the Tulagi Police Station, Inspector Hugo Maelasi says, “I want to acknowledge the Commissioner Correctional Services Solomon Islands for allowing his officers to escort the defendants during the Court hearing at Yandina.”
“On behalf of the Provincial Police Commander Central Province, I appeal to the communities in Central Province to respect the police in their communities. Police is there to support the communities in enforcing law and order to make sure our people are safe and secure,” says Inspector Maelasi.
Source: RSIPF Media