The total value of assets and cash allegedly stolen by three Chinese nationals is now confirmed at $43,322.89.

The Nadi Magistrates Court was informed by prosecution yesterday after they filed amended charges as ordered by the court earlier in the week.

Prosecution amended the value of items stolen and converted all the currencies into Fijian dollars.

The amendments were made in the charge sheet and summary of facts was read to the three accused, Huang Xiaoyan, Wen Rong and Xia Wu, through a Chinese interpreter in Mandarin.

Police prosecution Constable Siteri Camaicola told Magistrate Mohamed Azar that the charges for the three remained theft.

Defence lawyer Shailend Krishna verified the amount and said the amount were agreed to and it was no longer disputed.

Mr Krishna said the women were ready to pay the amount which was not recovered when they were arrested.

The court noted that all jewelleries were recovered from the three.

He said the difference in the amount cited on the charge sheet and the amount recovered was $12,735.87.

Mr Krishna said his client’s family were willing to pay the balance through internet banking because it would be transferred from abroad.

Magistrate Azar warned Mr Krishna not to transfer offshore money but to legally arrange for the amount to be returned to the complainant before the sentencing date.

Mr Krishna submitted the mitigating factors for sentencing.

In his oral mitigation, he told the court to note that the jewellery was fully recovered and the shortfall of the cash amount would be returned to the complainant.

He further said to consider that the three had been in jail for 14 days and would spend the next 10 days in remand before their next appearance in court.

Mr Krishna also said the complainant had forgiven the three.

He also sought orders for medical treatment for Rong and Xia as they were sickly and needed immediate medical attention.

The three will appear in court on October 11 for sentencing.

Meanwhile, Huang and Wen appeared in a separate matter charged with theft.

The court heard that the pair allegedly approached the woman who was on her way back from school after dropping her grandson, asking if she believed in prayers.

It is alleged that they told the complainant to get her jewelleries and cash to them for prayer.

While praying, the pair allegedly switched a plastic bag filled with bottles with the plastic filled with jewelleries and cash the complainant had brought.

Both pleaded guilty to the charges. They all were remanded in custody awaiting their sentence.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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