Custodial term for burglary, theft

A 23-year-old labourer in Labasa charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft has been told by the Labasa Magistrate Court to serve a custodial sentence of six months and five days. Ratu Penaia Rosaumaka represented himself and pleaded guilty before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou.

For first count, the court heard that between December 8 and 11, 2017, in Labasa, Rosaumaka broke into and entered the office of South Pacific Valuation with intent to commit theft.

For the second count, the court heard that on the same day he dishonestly appropriated one HP brand laptop valued at $850, the property of South Pacific Valuation, with the intent to permanently deprive the said South Pacific Valuation.

Magistrate Savou said the accused spent approximately two months, three weeks and five days in remand.

Following the deduction for the period spent in remand this court notes that for count two (theft), the accused effectively served his sentence. However, in terms of count one (burglary) the remaining period after deduction of the remand in six months and five days.

Therefore, the final sentence count one is six months and five days.

For count two his time in remand had been considered as his period of imprisonment. Magistrate Savou, while handing down sentence, said the court should not afford offenders - although first and young offenders the benefit of a suspended sentence on the basis on purported rehabilitation, especially when the offence was a serious one.

He said there needed to be a general deterrence on this type of offences to ensure that house and business owners were not hijacked by apprehensions of fear of being burgled and having items stolen.