Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Gizo have arrested a man in a village on Vella La Vela Island for taking two additional bags of rice after he already had his share.
It was alleged the suspect threatened another person in the same community during a food relief supply distribution to communities affected by Cyclone Maila, which hit Choiseul, Isabel, and the western provinces recently.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Superintendent Wilken Miriki, said when the food supplies team arrived, the suspect withheld two extra bags of rice, although he had already received his share from the livelihood team.
PPC Miriki said the suspect was upset about an earlier community distribution, so he decided to hold on to an additional bag of rice.
Superintendent Miriki said when he was politely approached by the person who was supposed to receive the bags of rice, he became angry, threatened the victim, and used abusive language to that person.
The suspect has been arrested and charged with intimidation, contrary to section 231(1) of the penal code.
He was released on police bail and will appear in court on 25 May 2026.
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