Solomons

Mining conspiracy case heard in Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands High Court in Honiara has begun hearings in a case between the country’s newest mining oper ators and two Australian entities.

Australian mining company, Ross Mining, claims that Melbourne-based law firm, Slater and Gordon, and an Australian busi nessman, Dennis Reinhardt, have con spired to stop the company’s Gold Ridge mining venture in the Solomons.

The case is the latest twist in the on going battle between the mining company and the law firm. Leaving the claim aside in High Court hearing, both sides applied for separate judgements on certain legal technicalities.

Ross Mining lawyers argued that because the defendants didn’t file a defence, judgement must be made. But Slater and Gordon lawyers argued that Ross Mining must obtain the court’s per mission on whether or not it can hear the case, which they say is out of the court’s jurisdiction, because Slater and Gordon is overseas-based.

Ross Mining’s original writ of sum mons and statement of claim filed against Slater and Gordon and Reinhardt during Christmas last year, alleges that their con spiracy caused significant damage to Ross Mining and its subsidiary, Gold Ridge Mining. It also claims abuse of process.

The court has reserved its judgement on the hearing. PNS