Judge Pitakaka reserves ruling on strike out applications of Maenu’u, Garu,
HIGH Court Judge Michael Pitakaka has reserved his ruling on the applications made to strike out the petitions filed against Member of Parliament for Lau-Mbaelelea, Ben Maenu’u and MP for West Guadalcanal, Moses Garu.
He heard the two applications last Friday but reserved his ruling.
The counsels in these two cases will be notified of a date when Judge Pitakaka is ready to deliver the ruling.
Former MP for West Guadalcanal, Anthony Kamutulaka Veke filed the petition against his successor MP Garu after he lost his bid to retain the constituency seat.
He had filed the petition on nine grounds of Bribery and 13 other grounds relating to the electoral process.
MP Garu and his lawyer then filed an application to strike out the petition on grounds of frivolousness and vexatiousness.
They are also challenging the pleadings, which they say do not specify offences under the Electoral Act.
On the matter of MP Maenu’u, his predecessor Augustine Auga Maeue and another unsuccessful candidate Harry Philip jointly filed the petition against him.
The petition was filed on nine grounds of Bribery.
MP Maenu’u and his lawyer applied to strike out all the grounds of bribery, asserting that they are frivolous and vexatious. They also challenged that the pleadings on the basis that they do not specify the offences under the Electoral Act.
The L & L Lawyers represent the petitioners Auga, Philip and Mr Veke, whilst Maenu’u engages Peter Teddy Law Practice.
MP Garu engages private lawyer Francis Waleanisia.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Man remanded for attempted rape on 11-year-old
A MAN has been remanded in custody for allegedly attempting rape on an 11-year-old girl last month in West Guadalcanal.
Ambrose Vasere, 20, is facing one count of Attempted Rape.
He appeared in the Honiara Magistrate Court on Monday and he was remanded in custody until September 16.
The alleged incident occurred at 9pm on 20 August 2024 at a village in Tangarare Ward.
The victim had dinner with her aunt and uncle and their children along with the defendant.
After dinner, they watched a movie on the defendant’s phone.
As they watched the movie, the victim fell asleep, while the others continued watching.
Her brother woke her up, telling her to go upstairs of their dwelling house if she wanted to sleep.
Instead of going upstairs, the victim went and laid in a hammock under their house.
Not long after she fell asleep, the defendant left his mobile phone and walked toward the hammock and laid beside her in the hammock and touched her private body part before proceeding to bite her on the neck.
The victim sustained injuries and bleeding to her neck.
She cried out in pain and the others checked on her.
The victim told her uncle what the defendant did to her and her uncle got angry and told the defendant to go away and not return to the victim’s house.
The matter was then reported to police and a case was established for further investigation.
Police later arrested Vasere and placed him in a cell for further dealings by the Henderson Police.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
Hearing of application to strike out petition against MP Mahaga relisted
HEARING of the application to strike out the petition filed against the Member of Parliament for Gao-Bugotu, Trevor Hedley Mahaga has been vacated and relisted for September 6.
This was because the Attorney General (AG), who represents the Electoral Commission, has just served their submissions with sworn statements to the petitioner’s lawyer Schottler Kwaiga of L & L Lawyers.
Therefore, Mr Kwaiga sought time to respond to the documents and Judge Augustine Aulanga granted him his request.
Mr Kwaiga will file his amended submission including the reply by September 4.
Former MP Samuel Manetoali filed the petition against Mahaga after he lost the National General Election on April 17.
His petition is based on one count of Bribery and six counts of Breach of the Electoral Act. On the counts of Election Act breach, Mr Manetoali claimed MP Mahaga campaigned outside of the campaigning period.
The Electoral Commission, which is represented by Attorney General’s Chamber, is jointed to this petition case as the second respondent.
MP Mahaga, through his lawyer Sheena Kilua of Rano & Company, has filed an application to strike out the petition.
They say the pleadings in the petition do not specify which section of the Electoral Act the petitioner is relying on.
MP Mahaga also argued the activity, which the petitioner claimed as campaigning activity done after the campaigning period, does not fall under the campaigning activity.
They say the petition is frivolous and vexatious.
BY ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
