Two men who stole from the Parliament Speaker’s house late last year been jailed by the High Court in Suva.

Thirty-six-year-old Ratu Jone Latianara and 34-year-old Semi Vakaru entered into the house of Parliament Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and stole six mats valued at $2100, two Tongan mats valued at $800, one Fotanga masi valued at $800, three Gatu masi valued at $600, two vivivi mats valued at $1400, and eight single mats valued at $400, all to the total value of $6100.

Between November 5 and November 6, 2020, at Lomanikoro Village on Bau Island, the two persons entered into the complainant’s vacant house which was looked after by Kimi Veisaunakoro and Lanieta Vuetibau.

During the caution interview, Vakaru admitted that he had assisted Latianara in the commission of the offence.

The mats and masi were sold for $1200 and the money gained was equally shared among the two accused persons. They used the money to purchase alcohol and drank it at a vacant house in Nadave.

Latianara and Vakaru are both sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

They are ordered to serve 10 months while the other 10 months of their sentence is suspended for three years.

Considering the time spent in remand which is a period of three months, the actual period of serve for Latianara and Vakaru is seven months imprisonment.

Justice Rajasinghe has warned both the offenders that if they committed any crime during the period of three years and found guilty by the court, they would be liable to be charged and prosecuted for an offence according to the Sentencing and Penalties Act.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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