More on crossing by sea from PNG to Solomon Islands

This is from today's Solomon Star.

Aliens fined $4,400 for entering illegally
Submitted by drupal on Wed, 2007-12-19 11:33. Headlines
By DOUGLAS MARAU

FOUR foreigners were each fined $4,400 for illegal entry under the Passport Act and Immigration Act at Gizo Magistrate Court over the weekend.
The accused are Rodney Lochore from Australia, Daisy Elaih from Papua New Guinea, Justin Richard Taylan from USA and Yoji Sakaida from Japan.
They pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court heard that on 3 November, the foreigners arrived at Ballalae, Shortland islands on board a vessel called “Barbarian”.
At Shortland harbour, outside Nila Station, the court heard that the accused snorkelled and dived the World War Two relics.
The court heard that after that they also went to Balalae and tried to smuggle pieces of the relics on the island.
The court heard that it was then that the immigration, Custom and police officials at Gizo were alerted and flew over by a RAMSI plane and arrested them.
Chief Magistrate Leonard Maina when sentencing the four foreigners said Solomon Islands is a nation with laws governing and protecting its resources and people.
“The country has laws that protect its resources and historical things such as the World War two relics,” Mr Maina said.
He told the foreigners that like any other countries, foreigners who wished to enter the country must have proper traveling documents and must be cleared out from the last port of departure.
The foreigners during the court proceedings told the court that when they went to the port of entry on 3 November, there were no customs officers there to clear them.
However, Mr Maina said in such cases, the foreigners should have proceeded to the next port of entry.
“I warn foreigners who wish to come into Solomon Islands that it is an offence to enter the country without proper clearance,” he said.
“Failure to comply with the country’s immigration laws will result on heavy penalties imposed on you.”
The prosecution was represented by Crown Prosecutor Malaki Ungui.
Public Solicitor Ms Paulson appeared for the accused.

The foreigners during the court proceedings told the court that when they went to the port of entry on 3 November, there were no customs officers there to clear them.
However, Mr Maina said in such cases, the foreigners should have proceeded to the next port of entry.

This is SOP in every country on earth-they are theives and nothing more.

+The foreigners during the court proceedings told the court that when they went to the port of entry on 3 November, there were no customs officers there to clear them.
However, Mr Maina said in such cases, the foreigners should have proceeded to the next port of entry.+

This is SOP in every country on earth-they are theives and nothing more.

Check www.pacificwrecks.com for a different version of what happened. The diary entries on the site supported by excerpts from The Solomon Star and The Solomon Times Online tell a slightly different story.

This version of the story was posted o Solomon Times online today.

Gizo Magistrates Fine Foreigners for Illegal Entry
BY JOANNA SIREHETI
Four foreigners have been fined more than four thousand dollars after being convicted and sentenced for illegally entering the Solomon Islands.
The foreigners entered the Solomon Islands early last month and were charged with illegal entry.

During the hearing of their case last week, the court heard that the foreigners entered the country onboard the 'Barbarian' boat.

Rodney Pearce of Australia, Daisy Elaih of Papua New Guinea, Justin Taylan of USA and Yoji Sakaida of Japan were convicted and sentenced at the Gizo Magistrates Tuesday by Chief Magistrates Leonard Maina.

Magistrate Maina said that any foreigners who wish to enter the country must have proper traveling documents and proper clearance from the last country of departure.

Mr. Taylan, 30, has been held captive in the country since November 6, 2007, with the other three, also held in custody by Solomons authorities.

As a grandson of a World War II combat photographer, Carl Thien, Mr. Taylan gained an early appreciation for Pacific War air battles and was interested on the wrecks on the Balalae Islands, Shortlands.

He said that there are more World War II plane wrecks there than anywhere else in the world.

"We saw six Zero fighters, a Val dive bomber and a Betty bomber being illegally removed and that's why all this started."

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force confiscated their passports, photos and videotapes, placing them in detention without charges.

Last month, the four foreigners had been charged with illegally entering the country and pleaded innocent since they crossed borders through a published port of entry and in accordance with Solomon Islands law.

Mr. Taylan is also a founder of PacificWrecks.com, a free, non-profit history website dealing with World War II stories and Pacific theater airplane wrecks.