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HONIARA - An Australian Vietnam war veteran charged with plotting to assassinate the Solomon Islands prime minister has been released on bail, pending further police investigations.
Bill Johnson, 61, was formally charged on January 30 with plotting with four others to assassinate Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
It's alleged the plot was hatched during a drinking session at a Honiara motel.
Johnson appeared in the Honiara Magistrates Court this morning and was granted bail after the prosecutor said witnesses had changed their stories.
Prosecutor Ronald Talasasa did not oppose bail and said the Department of Public Prosecutions would not tolerate police concocting stories for their own agendas.
"I would like to emphasise very strongly that the criminal justice system in this country will not be allowed to interfered with, to be tainted, to satisfy people's personal vendettas, more so for police to make up stories," Talasasa said.
Talasasa sought a 14 day adjournment so that police could make further investigations.
Johnson, who lives on the island of Malaita, is married to a Solomon Islands woman and has three children.
He appeared in court in a red T-shirt and blue shorts after arriving handcuffed in a prison van.
Magistrate William Seneka ordered Johnson released on bail of $5,000 Solomon (approximately $1156.70), and ordered that he report weekly to police, surrender his passport and reappear in court on February 21.
Johnson's wife, Grace Billy Johnson, said after the hearing she and her three children were very worried after his arrest, but were much happier now.
Honiara residents who know Johnson said after his arrest that he was just a harmless drunk whose ramblings may have been taken the wrong way.
After being granted bail and walking out of Honiara's Rove jail, Johnson said: "It's good to be released. They looked after me very well in prison."
- AAP
