25 Mar 2005

RAMSI police commander given deadline to take legal stand over abuse allegations

11:59 am on 25 March 2005

The High Court in Solomon Islands has given the head of the assistance mission police, three weeks to decide whether to claim immunity on behalf of her colleagues who've been accused of abuse.

John Kwakwala Makasi alleges that RAMSI police officers breached the constitution in a series of incidents in December.

Mr Makasi alleges police forced him to urinate in front of them whilst he was held for questioning at the RAMSI base in Honiara.

Mr Makasi's lawyers claim RAMSI police officers have no protection under the Solomon Islands constitution.

The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports the High Court yesterday gave Commander Sandi Peisley, until the 20th of April to decide whether to claim immunity.