Rebel leader Keke on murder count

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN Herald correspondent

HONIARA - Solomon Islands rebel leader Harold Keke was charged yesterday with the murder of a Government minister and for his role in holding seven Anglican brothers hostage.

More than a thousand people gathered outside the Central Magistrates Court in Honiara for the first public appearance of Keke since he surrendered to the regional intervention force last month.

Wearing jeans and a T-shirt, Keke remained composed when rocks were lobbed on to the courthouse roof as he entered the complex under heavy security.

Chief Magistrate David Chetwynd heard details of the murder charge for what is alleged to have been the public assassination of Augustine Geve, a Catholic priest who at the time of his death in August last year was Keke's local member of Parliament and the Minister for Youth, Sport and Women.

Shortly after the murder, Keke, who was not asked to enter a plea yesterday, called the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, to claim responsibility.

Keke was also charged with seven counts of wrongfully concealing in confinement a kidnapped or abducted person. These charges relate to the kidnapping of seven Melanesian Brothers this year.

Keke, his brother Joseph Sangu and Caradine Pitakaka, facing separate charges, were remanded to reappear in court on September 25.