A 19-year-old who was found guilty of breaking into a home and stealing valuables has been ordered to attend counseling with the Social Welfare Department as part of his two-year suspended sentence.
The young man, who committed the crime when he was 17, will avoid serving jail time if he does not re-offend in the next seven years. The judge has placed him on probation through the Social Welfare Department for two years.
Justice Riyaz Hamza, presiding at the High Court in Lautoka, instructed that counseling be arranged for the accused alongside his mother. He emphasized the importance of the mother receiving assistance to enhance her parenting skills, stating that it is her responsibility to ensure that the young man adheres to any directives given by the Social Welfare Department.
The charges against him stem from an incident last year when he, along with others, unlawfully entered a residence in Korovutu, Ba, by removing the louvre blades from a kitchen window while the homeowner was away.
Justice Hamza noted that the overall level of harm caused by the crime was relatively low, as the stolen items had a low value and no physical or psychological harm was inflicted on the complainant. No violence was used during the break-in.
During the mitigation phase, it was disclosed that the accused is currently working in farming and acknowledged that the offense was a result of poor judgment and peer pressure.
Justice Hamza remarked that the prospects for the young man’s rehabilitation are promising, leading him to determine that a suspended sentence was appropriate. Nevertheless, to deter him and others from similar offenses and to protect the community, he suspended the sentence for a period of seven years.