Children have been charged for stealing lunches in schools, according to Inspector Unaisi Mateiwai. At a recent Christian rally, Inspector Mateiwai expressed concern over the rising number of children reported for both serious and petty crimes.
Inspector Mateiwai emphasized that these young offenders might not have committed these crimes if they had stronger family and religious influences. “A lot of children are being charged for stealing lunches,” she said. “The right of the child is to go to school, and our responsibility is to ensure they get there well-prepared. When they attend school, they should be happy.”
Another troubling issue pointed out by Inspector Mateiwai is the attitude displayed by some young offenders. She recounted a specific case where three youths were allegedly caught stealing and killing a pig. The troubling behavior was evident when the youths appeared in court.
“The first youth stood up and claimed, ‘I am the son of a tui (clan leader). I am a tui of this place. I own the pig and that person is not from here; he married into this place,’” Inspector Mateiwai recounted. The second youth claimed his right to the place based on his age and connection, while the third pointed out his maternal links to assert his entitlement.
The father of the first accused also faced charges. “That day, the punishment was given to the tui, the head of the yavusa (clan), because he failed to educate them. If you are a traditional leader, then you must act like one,” Inspector Mateiwai stated.