BY ROMINAH FAKA
Court has sentenced Darren Maelaua who pleaded guilty for having possessing of the Police VHF radio to a fine of $2000 or in default of three months’ imprisonment.
On Friday last week, court ordered that Maelaua pay a fine of $2000 before 3pm on Jan 17 and failure to pay the fine will result in three months’ imprisonment.
Maelaua charge for one count of possessing police property which he pleaded guilty and convicted by the court.
In delivering the sentence, court highlighted the aggravating factors which the offending itself speaks volumes of the seriousness involved. The item was found under Maelaua which belonged to the Royal Police Force, a creature created by statue whose functions are extensive and requisite to maintain peace, security and justice in the Solomon Islands.
Moreover, this particular item is assigned to Close Protection Department, a unit within the RSIPF that is tasked with the critical role of making sure of the safety and well-being of very high-profile individuals, such as the Prime Minister, and the Governor General of the country.
Matters for the mitigating factors, the earlier guilty plea, first time offender, his personal circumstances, his cooperation with the police and his faithfulness to attend to all his court hearings.
In sentencing remarks, court also highlighted the circumstance leading to this incident is a clear display of Maelaua poor judgement or ignorance and negligence. Court also emphasised his actions posed a risk to the public safety and security since that the Motorola radio could have been misused.
Court therefore starts with a starting point of $ 2,500 and added $1000 for aggravating factors and then deduct 1/3 for earlier guilty plea which is $900 and further deduct $600 for other mitigating factors. This leaves Maelaua a fine of $ 2000.
The court facts said on October 18, 2024, the defendant and another man went to Koloale Car Wash and asked a person who runs a tinting business there to tint his vehicle window glasses.
Whilst his vehicle is being tint, the defendant and the other male person who accompanied him sat at the back trailer of the vehicle.
Later, the defendant went to the passenger seat of his vehicle and took out the Police Radio handset.
He then switched on the radio and then returned it to his vehicle to recharged it because it was flat.
An informant who saw the defendant in possession of the police radio then contacted the police.
The Police Response Team Officer attended the scene at Koloale car wash and searched the defendant vehicle.
The officers then found the radio inside the defendant vehicle and identified it as a Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) radio, hence confiscate it from the defendant possession.
Police Prosecutor Smith Abuo is representing the accused and PSO for defendant.
