Regina v Wasi [2011] SBMC 16; Criminal Case 1279 of 2011 (17 November 2011)

IN THE CENTRAL MAGISTRATE COURT

Criminal Case No. 1279/2011

REGINA

vs.

JOHNSON JOSEPH WASI

Date of Hearing: 17/11/2011
Date of Ruling: 17/11/2011

Pros: PC Konley
Def: Mr E. Cade

RULING ON BAIL APPLICATION

1. The defendant is charged with an offence of rioting after proclamation which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment.
   
2. He was part of a group of people who were upset at the appointment of Mr Gordon Lilo Darcy as Prime Minister and the crowd went to the Prime Minister's Office at Point Cruz and demanded his resignation
   
3. .Thereafter the group including the defendant proceeded to the Governor General's house at East Kola Ridge and asked the Governor General to recall Parliament to appoint another Prime Minister. They were in possession of stones, iron rods and other instruments.
   
4. The Governor General explained that he had no powers to revoke the appointment of Mr Darcy or recall Parliament where upon stones were thrown at the water tank located in front entrance gate to Governor General's house.
   
5. The defendant and then proceeded to Honiara Hotel where Mr Darcy was camping with his supporters. This shows that the defendant and others were prepared to confront the Prime Minister
   
6. .This incident has received very bad publicity in the local and overseas media – so much so that Australian Government asked its citizen to exercise caution and avoid Honiara
   
7. .The action of the defendant the group that he was part of has damaged the reputation of the country, which was recovering from similar incidents of the past.
   
8. The public were admittedly were alarmed and shops and Honiara market was closed and the public needs to be protected from these kind of incidents.
   
9. In the circumstances the interest of demands that the defendant has to be remanded in custody so he is remanded in custody till 1/12/11.
   

Shafi Khan
Principal Magistrate