RSIPF arrests 21-year-old man for alleged arson in Central Province

Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Tulagi, Central Province have arrested a 21- year-old man on 30 April 2019 for allegedly burning his father’s house at Polomu’hu Village, on Big Ngella Island, Central Province.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Inspector Hugo Maelasi says, “Police was alerted on 29 April 2019 of an incident of the alleged arson at Polomu’hu Village, in Big Ngella Island Central Province.”

He adds: “The report was attended by an officer who was on holiday on the Island at that time and conducted the investigation that resulted in the subsequent arrest of the man.”

“It is alleged that on 28 of April 2019, the man who was disappointed with his parents for not feeding him after a long day of celebration set fire to the veranda of his parent’s dwelling house. Luckily the fire was put off by the man’s relatives. The leaf house was partly burned,” PPC Maelasi explains.

He says, “I want to advice members of the communities in Central Province that burning a house is a serious crime called arson. If found guilty of the crime it carries a maximum custodial penalty of life Imprisonment.”

“I want to advice all good people in the Central Province not to take law into their own hands but find a peaceful solution to any grievances,” says PPC Maelasi.

The 21-year-old man was formally charged with one count of arson under section 319 of the Penal Code. He has been remanded in custody to appear in the Honiara Central Magistrates Court on 15 May 2019.