Two men who stole a wallet containing $260 cash on January 8, 2015 at Grantham Road in Nabua were sentenced to five years and 11 months in the Suva Magistrates Court.

Aisake Nacavu and James Korokorovatu were told by Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage that a non-custodial sentence would not meet the purposes of the sentencing since the offence was committed on a public street.

While sentencing the duo, Magistrate Liyanage stated the mitigating factors were that the duo did not have previous convictions and had sought the court’s forgiveness.

Though they pleaded guilty on the trial date, it could not be considered as an early guilty plea, however, the court was of the view that a reasonable discount should be granted for saving the court’s time.

The summary of facts revealed that the complainant was on his way home after work at about 11pm when Nacavu grabbed him from the back while Korokorovatu searched his trouser pocket and stole his wallet containing $260 cash.

However, the facts did not reveal if the complainant was injured as a result of the robbery.

The court heard that the wallet was recovered without the cash.

Magistrate Liyanage did not fix a non-parole period after considering the fact that the two men did not have previous convictions.

He stated that this was to help the duo rehabilitate themselves.

They were given 30 days to appeal.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

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