Service workers’ access to homes must not be abused, says judge

High Court judge Justice Riyaz Hamza has warned of the serious breach of trust that occurs when service workers abuse access granted to private homes.

The comments were made today at the High Court in Lautoka during the court appearance of Marika Burenivalu and Sami Kari.

The pair admitted charges of aggravated burglary and theft.

State prosecutor Sheenal Swastika read the agreed summary of facts, which both accused confirmed they understood and accepted.

The court heard the two men had been hired to cut grass at the Lautoka home of a businessman, believed to be a Chinese national operating a business in Nadi.

According to the agreed facts, the complainant left his home securely locked while travelling to Nadi. Upon returning, he discovered the back door had been forced open and the house had been ransacked.

Items allegedly stolen included a grey Hyundai SUV (registration MV849), $3,500 in cash, a CCTV decoder, vehicle keys and bottles of liquor.

The matter was reported to Lautoka Police, and investigations later led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle.

The accused were arrested on February 14, 2025. During police interviews, they made admissions regarding their involvement in the offences.

The court heard one accused admitted forcing entry into the home using a pinch bar, spending about 30 minutes inside the property and stealing cash and other valuables.

He also admitted using some of the stolen money to purchase canvas from Tappoo before abandoning the vehicle in Nadi. His admissions were recorded during a police interview.

Justice Hamza said the matter reflected a serious breach of trust because homeowners often allow tradespeople and service workers onto their properties in good faith.

The judge said courts had dealt with cases involving workers such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters who had abused the access provided to them.

He said such offending could undermine public confidence and cause homeowners to reconsider their security arrangements.

The court also considered Kari’s previous juvenile record as part of sentencing matters. His date of birth was confirmed as November 23, 2006, making him 19 years old.

Justice Hamza noted both accused had been in custody since February 17, 2025, and said the period spent on remand would be taken into account during sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to August 27 for sentencing. Mitigation submissions are to be filed by August 25.