BY ROMINAH FAKA
The case involving three individuals arrested in connection with the alleged theft of gold ashes has been further adjourned to June 10, 2025, for mention and an extension of remand for the principal accused and for a pre-trial conference (PTC) for the couple.
Max Gura and his co-accused, Mirriam Keni Sasau, were jointly charged with one count of simple larceny and one count of possession of police property. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, Peter Olben is charged with one count of simple larceny.
Yesterday’s hearing was scheduled for the Pre-Trial-Conference (PTC) for the couple. However, only Max Gura appeared in court, as his co-accused Mirriam Keni Sasau was absent as she was attending to her two-week-old baby.
For the principal accused, Peter Olben, his defence lawyer indicated a guilty plea and sought an adjournment to finalize agreed facts and to prepare for sentencing and mitigation submissions.
Presiding Principal Magistrate, Dalcy Belapitu Oligari, adjourned the matter to June 10, 2025, for mention, during which an extension of bail for the couple and remand for Olben will be considered.
The court also directed that the case return on June 13, 2025, for the Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) for the couple to be conducted and for the agreed facts, sentencing and mitigation submissions for Olben to be prepared.
During the adjournment period, counsels are to work on the PTC for the couple, as well as the agreed facts and sentencing and mitigation submissions for Olben.
The allegations stem from an incident that occurred on September 24, 2024 when the principal accused, Peter Olben allegedly stole eight plastics of gold ashes weighing 8,992.10 grams.
On September 26, 2024, Max Gura allegedly used his vehicle to transport Peter Olben to help him escape from the police and conceal him at his village in Guadalcanal.
It was alleged that Gura received a portion of the stolen gold ashes from Olben after he had dropped him off at his hideout.
Another allegation is that the third defendant, Mirriam Keni Sasau sold a portion of the stolen gold ashes and collected approximately $ 160,000, which she then returned to her husband Gura and Olben.
The police also alleged that Olben gave Gura and his wife Mirriam Keni Sasau, an amount of $ 10,000. On October 3, 2024, Mrs. Keni Sasau was intercepted by officers from Henderson Police at Henderson area while attempting to sell another plastic containing gold ashes weighing around 80 kilograms, which she had received from defendants Gura and Olben.
Olben then escaped to Auki and handed the remaining gold ashes to defendant Gura who would find a gold buyer for the stolen gold. Gura reportedly sold the stolen gold ashes, portion by portion.
Police later discovered that Gura had purchased several vehicles and distribute them amongst his family members. He is also alleged to have bought a three- door RAV4, a two-tone vehicle, and a Hilux, all of which shipped to Auki.
Gura and Keni Sasau also alleged to have purchased a piece of land at Tasahe B, where they are currently building home.
On the December 5, 2024 police executed a search warrant at the resident of defendant Gura and Keni Sasau in Lunga.
During the search, officers reportedly found a small Szeba bottle containing several grams of gold ashes, a cash of $ 6,317-60, small medicine like plastic for storing and weighting gold ashes which contain remain 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).
Iete Tebakota from the Police Prosecution Department is prosecuting and Donation Houa of PSO acting for Max Gura and Syvia Pitamama for Olben and Roria Sikua for Mirriam Keni Sasau.
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