RAMSI and Solomons Police rule out foul play in officer's death
Updated
Solomon Islands and RAMSI Police have ruled out foul play in the death of a senior Vanuatu police officer serving with the regional mission. 54-year old Chief Inspector Amos Solip was found dead in his sleep at Isuna in South Guadalcanal Monday morning. RAMSI Participating Police Commander, Denis McDermott says his body was discovered by a New Zealand police officer who was working with him, and doctors confirm Chief Inspector Solip died of natural causes.
Presenter Sam Seke
Speaker: Ramsi Participating Police Commander Denis McDermott
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McDERMOTT: What we've been told by the doctors that it was natural causes and as we're concerned, it is a very sad time for a lot of people, including Amos's colleagues here in the mission and his family in Vanuatu.
SEKE: Where did it happen, where did he die?
McDERMOTT: He died, he passed away in his sleep at Isuna on the Weathercoast. It's a small provincial area on the Weathercoast side of Guadalcanal, about 20 minutes flight from the capital, Honiara, and he had been down there since early March working, providing advice and support to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
SEKE: And who was with him then?
McDERMOTT: There was a young New Zealand Police officer working with him, along with a couple of RSIPF nearby. Tragically the young New Zealand Police officer found Amos dead in bed about ten past nine yesterday morning.
SEKE: Did you conduct any sort of inquiry or investigation at all?
McDERMOTT: Well, we didn't, but the RSIPF did, which is standard procedures for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, to investigate matters of this nature and that's been done and it's been done thoroughly and professional by the RSIPF with our support.
SEKE: And foul play was ruled out?
McDERMOTT: Oh definitely, no question.
SEKE: How would you describe Chief Inspector Amos Solip?
McDERMOTT: In a discussion yesterday with the young officer that was working with him, the young New Zealand officer, he made a couple of comments that Amos was an articulate, intelligent and a good person to work with. But I think also we must remember that the service that he's provided to the Vanuatu community, his been a long serving police officer, having started when he was 20. He's had what I would call a very distinguished career. So I think it's fair to say that he's a highly respected, he was a very decent person and not only did he represent Vanuatu in this mission, but what he did his served in the Solomon Islands and also in Bougainville, so he's helped policing in many, many ways. A very, very professional officer.
