RSIPF arrests one suspect following arson incident in Renbel Province

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) this morning (23 August 2019) arrested a suspect in connection with the burning of two buildings at Tigoa in West Rennell, in the Rennell and Bellona Province on the night of 25 July 2019.

The suspect, a 29 age male person is being held at the Tigoa Police Station in West Rennell as arrangements are underway to transfer the suspect to Honiara where he will be formally charged.

The two buildings burned during the incident were owned by the Rennell and Bellona Provincial Government and the incident was allegedly connected to the election of the Renbel Provincial Premier about the same time.

Police investigators including officers of the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), Forensics and the Fire and Rescue Service were sent to Tigoa to assist police there to investigate the incident soon after it happened.

“NCID officers returned to Tigoa yesterday (22 August 2019) and based on evidence collected so far in our investigation, a suspect was arrested at 2 am this morning at the Renbel Provincial capital,” says Supervising Deputy Director of NCID, Inspector Michael Bole.

He adds: “I wish to thank my NCID officers and officers at the Tigoa Police Station who have worked hard on the investigation into the arson incident which has resulted in the arrest of the suspect. I also want to thank members of the community at Tigoa for assisting our investigators with valuable information which led to the arrest of the first suspect in this sad incident.”

“Our investigation into this incident is continuing and I want to call on anyone who was at Tigoa on the night of 25 July and may have any information to contact the Tigoa Police Station,” says Inspector Bole.