9 Feb 2006

Senior policeman in Solomons charged with murder

7:20 am on 9 February 2006

A senior police officer in Western Solomon Islands has been charged with murder.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation is reporting Sergeant John Matapaza was charged over the murder of Bobby Sae Nare in Gizo in 2000.

Sergeant Matapaza was arrested in Choiseul province yesterday, appeared in Gizo magistrates court and remanded in custody.

Court documents alleged on 11th June 2000, John Matapaza, acted with a former commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Cornelius Galasa and others to murder Bobby Sae Nare.

Cornelius Galasa was arrested and charged last year for the murder.