BY ROMINAH FAKA

A man alleged in the case of stolen gold dust has been granted bail by the magistrate court.

Max Gura was ordered to pay a cash bail of $3,000 on Friday last week.

He is also being released under strict bail conditions.

Court adjourned the matter to March 14 for Pre-Trial- Conference (PTC).

Gura and co-accused Miriam Keni Sasau are charged together with one count of simple larceny and one count of possessing police property.

The allegations were raised in relation to an incident which occurred on September 24, 2024 when the prime suspect, who is still at large, allegedly stole 8992.10 grammes of gold ashes.

Police alleged on September 26, 2024 Gura transported the prime suspect in his vehicle to escape police and concealed him at his village in Guadalcanal.

The allegation said Gura allegedly received a portion of the stolen gold ashes from the prime suspect and his wife after he dropped him off at his hideout.

Later on, Sasau sold a portion of the gold which she allegedly collected an amount of $160,000 and returned the money to her husband Gura and the prime suspect.

The prime suspect then gave Gura and his wife Sasau $10,000.

In November 2024 the prime suspect allegedly escaped to Auki and handed the remaining gold ashes to Gura who would find a gold buyer for them.

Gura reportedly sold the stolen gold ashes, portion by portion.

Police later discovered Gura had bought a number of vehicles and shared them among his family members. He also allegedly bought three door Rav4 and two-tone vehicles and Hilux which were shipped to Auki.

Gura and Sasau also allegedly bought a piece of land at Tasahe B and were building a home on that land plot.

On December 5, 2024, police executed a search warrant at Gura and Sasau’s residence in Lungga.

Police found a small bottle containing several grammes of gold ashes, a cash of $6,317.60, small medicine-like plastic for storing and weighing gold ashes which contained remaining gold ashes, dark blue RSIPF Cargo Pant, one RSIPF Fire Service-EMT dark blue long sleeve station wear, one 511 blue tactical pant and one black OST rain coat, the properties of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

Both defendants were arrested and charged accordingly.

Police Prosecutor Department is prosecuting the case and Donation Houa of PSO acts for the defendants.

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