Staff Reporter
PORT VILA: Vanuatu's Minister for Public Infrastructure and Utilities Harry Iauko is yet to be summoned to court to answer to allegations of threats and assault on Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones.
The Daily Post has been told that no charges have been leveled against him yet.
But the Post was told that police interrogation with minister Iauko and all men allegedly involved has been completed and the minister would be summoned shortly.
The Post was also informed that the Magistrates' Court did not sit for the mention as scheduled on 2pm Thursday as the judiciary closed its doors to pay respect and condolences to a staff member who had died. The case will be rescheduled to another date.
Moreover, the court "mention" scheduled for yesterday afternoon was not for minister Iauko to appear in court as reported in the media but for the first four men who accompanied him to the Daily Post office to appear before the Magistrates' Court.
These accused have more than three charges leveled against them in their alleged involvement on the assault on the Daily Post publisher.
They were initially arrested on 25 March 2011 and released on bail conditions after investigations into the assault on Friday, March 4.
At the time of their arrest, minister Iauko was not in the country but on his return police interviewed him and the four remaining suspects at the police station.
Meanwhile, Neil-Jones has voiced concerns that the “charge of the breach of Leadership Code be included at the same time as the other counts to avoid the possibility of double jeopardy [the prosecution of a person twice for the same offence].”
“It is the fifth week since the assault and charges are yet to be leveled against the minister,” Neil-Jones said, congratulating the police investigation team on an excellent investigation.
“It is our fervent hope that the case will not be delayed and justice will prevail.” - Vanuatu Daily Post/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
