BY LORETTA B MANELE
The decision we make must be based on the evidence and on what we have seen says Andrew Kelesi, Director of Public Prosecutions.
He was speaking to 22 police officers selected to be part of a program “Prosecutors Qualifying Course” at the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Headquarters on Monday, September 15, 2025.
The course, funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) also commenced on Monday.
Catering to both police officers from the province and Honiara, the program is set to end on the 25th of next month, October.
Kelesi stressed that the decision they make must not be based on their own decisions but on the evidence and whatever they have with them.
“Make sure we do not make a decision based on our decisions. It must be based on the evidence.
“It must be based on the exhibits and everything that is contained. We do not make any decision because of something else or other reasons,” he said.
Kelesi went on to tell the officers that their job is about making sure the truth comes out while noting that at the end, it is the court that decides based on the stories they present.
On this note, he remined them that they must also make sure that they are accountable for their actions.
“Whatever the actions that we take, we must be accountable.
“We must be accountable to the people of Solomon Islands. We must be accountable to the booklets that are placed against us. We must be accountable to the people around us,” he stressed.
Kelesi also pointed out that life of a prosecutor is challenging but sometimes technical.
He warned the officers that there will be a lot of files they will be reading and some cases that will be pending.
Kelesi noted that in some situations, they will have people coming up to them.
“People will come to you and try and do something to influence you about whatever decision that you are going to make,” he said.
Kelesi in this regard, reiterated that they must conduct themselves according to their ethics as prosecutors.
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