Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Solomons police arrest suspected Yandina arsonist

Posted at 04:13 on 01 May, 2006 UTC

Police in Solomon Islands have arrested and charged a man with arson after two fires caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the Russell Islands Plantation Estate.

Last month, the cocoa and copra company suffered almost two million US dollars worth of fire damage to buildings and dried copra in two fires in less than ten days.

Police in Yandina say the fire destroyed two buildings, including the administration building.

They say they are aware of a series of problems due to a long running industrial dispute between the company and local workers.

Police say the man, who was arrested last week, is due to appear in the Honiara magistrate’s court by May 10.