A 20-year-old male suspect who used a war club to cause unlawful wounding in Malaita was arrested on Monday after more than three months on the run.

Police in Auki have arrested the suspect who was involved in the incident at Otorodai village, Mbita’ama area in North Malaita on 26 August 2024.

A statement from Police Media Unit said, the suspect used a weapon (war club) and struck the victim on the right leg several times, as a result the victim sustained injury with a swollen leg and he was not able to walk at that time of the incident.

“The suspect stopped when the war club was broken into half and that was when the injured victim managed to jump out from the house and yelled out for assistance,” the statement said.

The arrest was made after the incident happened on 26 April 2024 after few attempts to arrest the suspect but he escaped from police upon arrival.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Malaita Province, Chief Superintendent Tex Tafoa said, “The villagers came to the victims’ rescue and noticed that his right leg was injured while the suspect had already escaped to his home village.”

PPC Tafoa said, “A case was later reported and was established for investigation. Currently police in Auki continue with investigation while the suspect is on remand at Auki correctional facility.”

Chief Superintendent Tafoa has appealed to the public to refrain from illegal or criminal activities. 

“This is not good for us who stay together in one area and cause problems between us.”