RSIPF commends communities in North Malaita for handing over murder suspect

The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) has thanked the communities of Afo’a and Gwaiau in North Malaita for their cooperation with police at Auki and Malu’u resulting in the successful arrest of a 17-year-old male murder suspect on 7 May 2020.

This followed the death of the suspect’s seven-month pregnant wife on 20 April 2020 after the couple had a row at their home at Afo’a. The suspect has been on the run from the police since the incident.

Operation Manager Auki police station Malaita province Inspector Charles Edward Koto says, “With the help and working together of leaders in the communities of Afo’a and Gwaiau and police in Malaita province, the suspect was handed over to police on 7 May 2020."

The suspect has been dealt with and charged for the offence of murder and killing of an unborn baby. He has been remanded at the Auki Correctional Centre to appear in the Auki Magistrates’ Court on 29 May 2020.

“I want to thank the people of Afo’a and Gwaiau communities for their support towards police which resulted in the arrest of the murder suspect and I also appeal to communities around Malaita Province to do likewise when someone has committed a crime in the community and is wanted by the police. This is a very sad incident resulting in the death of a female member of our community. I encourage couples to seek help from church leaders and chiefs when they encounter problems in their families and not to take the law into their own hands,” Inspector Koto emphasises.