Judge suspends youth’s jail term

An 18-year-old was given a suspended sentence in the Suva High Court yesterday because the court found that he was genuinely remorseful. The accused, Roko Mate, was charged with one count each of burglary and theft.

He pleaded guilty to both counts and was represented by Legal Aid Commission lawyer Lice Manulevu.

The incident happened on January 30, 2018 when he broke into a house in Cunningham with the intention to steal. The accused admitted stealing a ProMax drilling machine valued at $139, a ProMax circular saw valued at $159, a pair of canvas worth $377, a rope worth $10, a jacket costing $8 and a drill beat set valued at $9.50.

The total value of the items stolen was $702.50.

In mitigation the accused said he stole the items because he wanted to sell it to pay for his education at a technical college.

While sentencing the accused, Judge Justice Daniel Goundar said he had admitted to Police that he cut the wall made of roofing iron to get inside the house. He said the accused committed the crime after he received his high school external exam marks which he failed.

Justice Goundar said there were no aggravating factors in the case and the mitigating factor was that the accused had pleaded guilty and saved the court’s time and resources.

The accused also cooperated with the Police.

The accused was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and sentence was suspended for three years.

The period of 43 days which he spent in remand was also taken into consideration.