RSIPF arrests suspect for grievous harm incident in Western Province

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) at the Gizo Police Station in the Western Province have arrested a man in his 20s for allegedly causing grievous harm to his uncle at Vavanga village on Kolobangara Island in Western Province on 3 May 2021.

It is alleged that the nephew seriously wounded his uncle with a pocketknife and stabbed the victim once at his backside and pulled out the knife and stabbed the victim again on his right hand while the victim busy cutting his wooden canoe at a coconut plantation in their home village at Vavanga.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “The suspect was formally arrested by officers at Gizo Police Station and placed in police custody after the matter was reported to police.”

PPC Lenialu says, “The suspect has been charged with one count of Act of Intend to cause grievous harm contrary to section 224 (1) (a) of the Penal Code and is currently on remand at the Gizo Correctional Centre to appear in the Gizo Magistrates’ Court on a late date.”

“I appeal to members of the communities in and around Vavanga village who may have any information about the incident to come forward and assist the police investigators,” says Chief Superintendent Lenialu.

He adds, “RSIPF condemns the alleged incident in the strongest term and appeal to members of the communities in Western Province to cooperate and work together with the police and report such incidents in a timely manner as the law will not tolerate such inhumane treatment of our old people.”