The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) Prosecution Department will charge and re-bail 58 suspects that were released by the Magistrates Court early this week following no charges laid against them for breaching the curfew under State of public Emergency which was enforced last weekend.

Acting Commissioner of Police Mostyn Mangau says, “A total of 63 suspects were arrested during the two nights of curfew and are now facing court. I know the Courts released 58 of the suspects this week after no charges were filed by police prosecution.

"This matter is now being discussed by the RSIPF Director Prosecution and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the official charges are expected to be laid against the suspects soon and will return to Court."

Acting Commissioner Mangau adds: “Given the administrative paper work that needed to be done in a very short time our officers from the Police Prosecution Department did not have ample time to file the charges and presented in court before the hearing.

"It is quite a challenging job and I want to thank officers as this will enable them to improve our work during the State of Emergency and to prepare in advance should there be a longer lock down or curfew.”

“Let us all remember we are still under the State of Public Emergency and we will stay like this for at least the next four months. Let us take this seriously and continue to follow what the Government wants us citizens to do to prevent the killer virus reaching our shores,” says Mangau.

He says: “I call on all our citizens to understand that the Solomon Islands Government is putting all these Orders in place to continue to protect against the deadly virus entering our country.”

Source: RSIPF Media