23 Jan 2012

Four people charged in Solomon Islands for theft and intimidation of two big companies

11:28 am on 23 January 2012

Four people have been arrested and charged with intimidation and unlawfully taking vehicles from two of Solomon Islands' biggest companies.

The police have set up a task force of 38 officers to investigate nine incidents of theft, violence and damage to property at the Gold Ridge Mine and Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil processing plants.

The Acting Police Commissioner Walter Kola says locals are helping police with identifying suspects involved in the crime.

"I'm very pleased and like to thank these people who have come forward, assisting the police and eventually four suspects have already been arrested, been charged and have been bailed to appear before the courts in the next month."

Walter Kola says there are continuous reports of landowners demanding compensation and damaging the companies' properties, which he says police cannot stop alone.