7 Feb 2007

Solomons police witnesses warned in alleged murder plot case

8:02 pm on 7 February 2007

The Solomon Islands Director of Public Prosecution, Ronald Bei Talasasa, has issued a stern warning in the Central Magistrates Court in Honiara, saying the country's criminal justice system will not be tampered with.

Mr Talasasa says the criminal justice system cannot be allowed to be tainted to satisfy people's vendettas, even less for police to make up stories to be submitted as evidence in court.

He says the office of Director of Public Prosecutions will not tolerate such attitudes by Solomon Islands police or RAMSI officers who he alleges changed their stories.

Mr Talasasa issued the warning in a hearing of an Australian man accused to be part of a plot to kill the prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

The man Bill Johnson is due back in court in two weeks.

He says this time will allow for further inquiries into the statements made by police witnesses.