Six million worth of properties were removed and three excavators were burnt down during the incident on March 7 2023 at Pangoe logging camp in East Choiseul.
Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Taro and Police Response Team (PRT) have arrested 10 suspects for burning down three excavators in relation to a land dispute at Pangoe in East Choiseul early this month.
RSIPF Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said investigation revealed that the motive behind the arson incident relates to a land issue which the logging currently operates in east Pangoe.
Mangau said it is a long standing civil issue between parties involved.
“Since it involves the burning, now it becomes a police matter.” Mangau said.
The disputed party sent three men on 3 March 2023 to the disputed area to set fire on the company’s excavators but was unsuccessful.
Few days later on 7 March 2023 more than 50 men approached the company’s security guards with masks on their faces and started attacking the security guards using bows and arrows, timbers and iron rods that seriously injured four security officers.
Mr. Mangau said as the security guards escaped, the group of men burnt down three excavators, a welding generator, lotting the security tent and stole valuable properties estimated around six million Solomon Island dollars
The company security officers were transported to Taro hospital for further medical attention after the incident and now they are in stable condition.
Investigation into the burning incident is continuing and currently the 10 alleged suspects are remanded at Gizo Correctional Centre while other suspects are yet to be arrested.
Police urges those suspects who are still at large to surrender themselves to the police, or parents and relatives of suspects at Pangoe to report their whereabouts to Taro police on phone 63199.
Source: Police Media
