Mr Justice Ford on June 8 dismissed charges of theft and house breaking after prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court for the trial.

Mr Justice Ford dismissed the charges against 22 year old Pita Lolohea of Popua after adjourning the court for several hours to wait for the two witnesses to arrive.

Following the dismissal of the charges the judge ordered a arrest warrant of the two witnesses for, what prosecution counsel Sione Sisifa said outside the court, was contempt of court.

Lolohea was charged with theft and house breaking at the home of William Holden at Popua on 14 February 2003 when goods worth about $7,241 pa'anga were stolen.