Sir Kemakeza has a "no case to answer" in regard to Sol-Law robbery charge

BY Joy Basi

The Honiara Magistrates Court has dismissed a robbery charge against former Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza.

Sir Allan was prosecuted on the charge of demanding money with menace, intimidation and larceny in relation to an attack on law firm, Sol-Law, in 2002.

Speaking before the Magistrates, the last defense witness, Mr Leonard Kwai said there was no mentioning of the Sol-Law firm in a meeting between former militants and Sir Allan at his residence.

Mr Kwai, who was a police sergeant at that time, has known Sir Allan for four years and was his personal bodyguard at the time.

Defense Attorney Presley Watts requested that the court be adjourned so he could give a written submission on the other three cases, which are still on hold.

Mr Watts said prosecution witnesses are believed to have been spoon fed by those behind the Sol-Law matter "because it is simply not true".

In his ruling, Magistrates Court's judge, Mr Graig McConaghy said charge has been dismissed on the grounds that there was "No Case to Answer".

The evidence provided by the prosecution did not disclose any prima facie case against the defendant.

"Robbery charges against Sir Allan have been dropped because those accused to have been involved were not at all charged with robbery when they were sentenced," Mr McConaghy said.

The case was adjourned for further hearing of defense witnesses on the other three cases today.

Source: Solomon Times