BY ROMINAH FAKA

The trial of a police officer accused of bribery involving stolen gold ashes has begun on Monday morning, June 30 at the Magistrate’s Court.

Allen Noni was charged with two counts of bribery contrary to section 122 (a) of the Penal Code.

He pleaded not guilty and the trial was conducted before Principal Magistrate Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa. 

The prosecution is calling three key witnesses for the trial, the complainant and two other officers who accompanied the complainant and saw the text message sent by the defendant.

This also goes for the witnesses who saw the alleged bribery take place on two separate dates, November 8 and 12, 2024.  

The Crown also tendered four statements and the record of interview of Noni.

In the opening statement, the prosecution alleged that on November 8 at 3.32 pm, Noni sent a text message to the complainant, stating that he wanted to meet in person.

They later met at around 7.30pm at the Town Ground area, Honiara where Noni allegedly gave $10,000 to the complainant.

On November 12, the defendant and the complainant met again at Henderson area, where Noni allegedly bribed the complainant with $20,000.

The total sum of $30,000 was allegedly given to the complainant by Noni to prevent the lead investigator from investigating Max Gura’s case.  

Jeremy Oiofa from the Office of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and Donation Houa from PSO act for Noni.

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