19 Aug 2005

Solomon Islander charged with threatening ministers

8:33 am on 19 August 2005

A man is to appear again today in court in Solomon Islands charged with threatening to kill ministers and MPs.

Local police helped by intervention force officers arrested Elton Kenasi in Honiara yesterday.

Mr Kenasi was charged with four counts of making written threats to murder, two counts of threatening violence and two counts of demands with menace.

Police were investigating letters sent to Ministers, MPs and government departments in April and May.

The letters were said to be from a militant group calling itself the Malaita Separatist Movement and threatened violence if the Prime Minister or other ministers didn't resign.

Mr Kenasi was remanded in custody overnight and is to re-appear before the Honiara Magistrates' Court for a bail application.