Sogavare rejects media suggestion as his delegation touched down in Honiara

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has rejected media reports saying he fears he could face arrest on his return home over Julian Moti’s illegal entry into Solomon Islands.

Mr Sogavare says after checking with the office of the Prime Minister and the police, he’s found out that nothing like that is going to happen.

Mr Sogavare warns if that is going to happen, the country could see a repeat of events of April 18th. He says after police had raided his office two weeks ago a RAMSI police vehicle was stoned by people who were agitated and dissatisfied over the way things are being done.

Mr Sogavare says police are investigating how the Papua New Guinea defence force plane which had brought Moti had landed at Munda – an event that took him by surprise.

He says his conscience is clear and he did not think he’d done anything to warrant his arrest.

“So after checking up, no such thing would happen. If they want to continue to investigate it’s up to them, but my mind is very clear, I don’t have a guilty conscience. I haven't done anything wrong to be afraid what police might want to do. If there is an arrest on this one, it would be for the basic interest of Australia because the issue is one of Julian Moti, which is a non issue to Solomon Islands.”

The Prime Minister and part of his delegation has just arrived at Henderson Airport on board a PNG-chartered aircraft a few hours ago.

Source: SIBC