Royal Solomon Islands Police
21 September 2008
Community consultation in Avuavu leads to three arrests
Consultation between police and community leaders on the Weathercoast has lead to three men being charged with attempted
murder.
The three men were charged yesterday in Honiara by detectives from the Solomon Islands Police Force Serious Crime Squad
after they surrendered to officers based at Avuavu.
The men were transported to Honiara yesterday.
Police will allege the 26-year-old man, 31-year-old man and 39-year-old man were involved in the serious attack on a
RAMSI police officer on 2 September 2008 at Avuavu.
Acting Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall, explained that consultation with the community has been very important
during this investigation.
“Police officers are here to serve the community and officers work with the community on a daily basis. Police have
liaised with community leaders and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government from day one of this investigation.
“I am pleased that this consultation lead to three offenders coming forward and handing themselves to police. I would
like to thank the communities on the Weathercoast for their ongoing support during this investigation,” he said.
The three men were charged with attempted murder under section 215 of the Penal Code and have been remanded in custody.
Four other men that surrendered to police at Avuavu yesterday were released without charge.
“Four other man handed themselves to police, however they were released. Their involvement in the attack will be
investigated further,” Acting Commissioner Marshall said.
The investigation into the attack will continue and police are still actively pursuing the main offender Alphonseus
Toghovotu and other co-offenders.
“I would like to call on Mr Toghovotu and the other people involved in the attack to follow the example of the three
men and hand themselves in to police,” Acting Commissioner Marshall said.
ENDS