[Published on Tuesday, 5 May 2026]
BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Magistrate Court has opened hearings in a criminal case involving a man accused of illegal gold trading in the Solomon Islands.
Mr Xiao Yulin, 39, a Chinese national was initially charged under sections 53(a) and 63 of the Mines and Minerals Act for allegedly engaging in unauthorised gold dealing.
He was scheduled to enter a plea before Chief Magistrate Ricky Lomea last Friday.
However, the prosecution informed the court of its plan to file amended charges, prompting an adjournment.
The defence confirmed it had received disclosures from the prosecution on May 30.
Chief Magistrate Lomea subsequently granted an adjournment to May 8 at 9am, when the accused is expected to enter a plea to the revised charges.
Police bail for Mr Xiao was extended, and the prosecution was directed to file and serve the amended charges before a possible plea on Friday.
Fraud Unit investigations revealed that the accused and a local associate, Mr William Salu, were illegally buying gold from illegal miners and panners from the Gold Ridge Mining site at the rate of $850 per gram with a signboard displaying ‘Buy Gold’ at Tenaru junction, Central Guadalcanal—an area not covered by the license, which is owned by a relative of Mr Salu.
Documents revealed Xiao was employed by Happy Inn Company, trading as “Fastina Gold Buyer” under a licence registered for Alligator Creek.
The accused continued to buy gold illegally without a gold dealer’s licence from November 7, 2025 to January 6, 2026 in the Tenaru area in Guadalcanal Province.
The Gold Dealer’s Licence is intended for Solomon Islands citizens only and is non-transferable.
Section 55 (1) b (iii) of the Mines and Minerals Act states that the Minister may issue a gold dealer’s license to any person who is over 21 years old and is a citizen of Solomon Islands.
Currently, issuance of licenses is suspended after the GRML notified the Ministry of Mines of non-issuance, following reports that licenses that were intended for local entrepreneurs were being exploited by Chinese gold buyers.
The offence of illegal gold dealing carries a maximum penalty of a $20,000 fine, five years’ imprisonment, or both.
Steward Tonowane is prosecuting the case, and he represents the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while Private Defence lawyer Alex Hiro from Honiara Attorney at Law represents the accused.
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
