THE case of a man found guilty for involvement in the November 2021 riot in Honiara, has been adjourned at 2pm on Tuesday for sentencing submissions and mitigation.

Sade Kwate’e was convicted of two counts of Unlawful Assembly and one count Arson, and acquitted of a charge of Sedition after a trial.

The presiding magistrate provided copies of the judgement to counsels last Friday, and then adjourned the matter for the sentencing this afternoon.

Kwate’e was part of a group that participated in an unlawful assembly on 24 November 2021, outside the Parliament House, demanding the Prime Minister’s resignation.

The following day, he was involved in a group that set fire to the Naha Police Station.

The incident occurred during the height of the three-day violent outbreak in Honiara, which left the city’s Chinatown in ruins and numerous business houses and shops in Honiara looted and set ablaze.

Other notable buildings that were burnt to the ground include the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) branch at Ranadi, the Kukum Traffic Centre, and part of Honiara High School.

The Naha Police Station was also ransacked and set on fire, but the community managed to put out the flames.

The three days of violence, sparked by protestors opposed to the Government’s decision to switch diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China and other disagreements, began on 24 November 2021, and resulted in widespread looting and arson of business houses and shops.

By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN

Solomon Star, Honiara