DEFENCE lawyers representing men alleged to have been involved in the Auki BSP bank robbery incident are asked to appear in court.

Principal Magistrate Fatimah Taeburi yesterday said that all defence lawyers must attend the next court appearance before she can deliver her ruling on the bail application made.

The five men are represented by lawyers from both private and the Public solicitor’s office.

Ms Taeburi told the prosecution to inform the private lawyers to appear in court.

The men – John Kiki, Nelson Ausolo, Solomon Wadily, Patrick Talo and Peter Kafa Eto – are charged with robbing the BSP branch in Auki, Malaita, on November 27 last year.

The allegation said they were armed with dangerous weapons.

One of them, Ausolo, had a gun and fired a shot while standing outside the bank as lookout, the court was told.

He is reported to have done this while the other accused stayed in the getaway car.

Two others, Talo and a man went into the bank and filled up bags with about SI$200,000 and US$10,000, the court heard.

The prosecution said that another shot was fired before the accused left the bank.