[Published on Tuesday, 5 May 2026]
BY MELVILLE TITIULU
Two juveniles who admitted to obstructing police officers during a New Year patrol in West Honiara were sentenced by the Magistrate’s Court.
The 17-year-old male and 16-year-old female, whose identities remain withheld for legal reasons, were each handed their sentences on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of Obstructing a Police Officer in the Due Execution of Duty under section 247(b) of the Penal Code.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
Principal Magistrate Joyceth Paile, delivering judgment, said the court had taken into account the fact that the offence took place at 1 am. She said stones were used to attack the police vehicle, resulting in the police not carrying out their duty that night.
Mrs Paile explained to both the juveniles in court that stones are a weapon and can inflict serious harm.
Paile told them that the police officers that they had attacked that night had to leave their families at home to protect public safety during the new year’s night.
She told them in court that the repeated stoning of the police vehicle in itself is an aggravating feature.
In her sentencing remarks, she said police officers are responsible for upholding the rule of law and they ought to be respected for they represented the state in maintaining peace.
The Principal Magistrate was of the view that police officers should never be treated with hostility.
The Principal Magistrate then considered the methods of dealing with young persons charged with offences under S16 of the Juvenile Offenders Act, taken in light of the personal circumstances of the two juveniles.
In particular, provisions relating to a custodial sentence. Such imprisonment terms, she said, will enable them to learn to respect police officers.
In her ruling, Magistrate Paile sentenced the female juvenile to three month’s imprisonment. However, she noted that the juvenile had already spent three months in custody and therefore, ordered that she be released with immediate effect yesterday.
The other male juvenile, was also released by the Principal Magistrate on condition that his guardian (sister) pays a fine of $600 as per S16(F) of the Juvenile Offenders Act.
The $600 fine must be paid by his sister by Friday, May 22. In default of payment, his sister (guardian) will serve 30 days at the Rove Correctional Centre. This comes after the court took into consideration the 2 weeks he had spent in custody.
The case stemmed from an incident on January 1, 2026, at 1am when police patrol vehicles were blocked by burning rubbish at Tasahe Area before being pelted with stones.
Witnesses identified the two juveniles among those attacking the convoy, forcing officers to withdraw and disrupting patrol operations in White River and Tasahe.
Daisy Mosese is acting on instructions from Gabriel Maefiri, and she represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Defence Counsel, Mr Ricardo Vatia acted on instructions from Mr Jason Anisi, and he represented the Public Solicitor’s Office. They represented the two juveniles.
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