Three foreign nationals arrested for illegal entry into Solomon Islands further remanded in custody

The three foreign nationals arrested by the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) in Honiara for alleged illegal entry into Solomon Island on 19 June 2020 have been further remanded by the Honiara Central Magistrates’ Court when they appeared in Court this morning.
They will reappear in Court on 13 July 2020.

It is alleged that the three defendants, two from Great Britain and one from the United States of America illegally entered into Solomon Islands waters on the yacht Mo Chuisle and dropped anchor at the Mbokona Bay (Aola Base) at Point Cruz in Honiara. They went ashore into the Point Cruz Yacht club without proper checking by responsible authorities under the current COVID-19 State of Public Emergency regulations.

Police, Customs and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services were alerted of the situation and the three defendants were placed into quarantine at the Honiara Hotel quarantine site.

Officers of the RSIPF formally arrested the three foreign nationals after their 14 days of quarantine lapsed last Friday 3 June 2020 for the offence of Prohibition of Entry of None Citizen and placed in the Honiara City Central Police station watch house.”

The three defendants have been in custody since arrested and charged for the offence of Prohibition of Entry Contrary to Clause 4 of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (Prohibition of Entry of Non-Citizens) Order 2020 and Regulation 8 (1) (2) and (3) of the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.”

The defendants were taken to court on Saturday 4 July 2020 and re-appeared in Court this morning when they were further remanded as police investigation into the matter continues.