A 19-year-old who was found guilty of breaking into a home and stealing valuables has been mandated to undergo counselling through the Social Welfare Department as part of a two-year suspended sentence. The individual will avoid jail time as long as he does not commit any further offenses within the next seven years. At the High Court in Lautoka, Judge Riyaz Hamza ordered the young man, who committed the crime at the age of 17, to be placed on probation for two years under the supervision of the Social Welfare Department.
Judge Hamza instructed that the counselling be conducted in the presence of the young man’s mother. He emphasized the importance of providing support and resources to the mother to enhance her parenting skills. The judge made it clear that it was her responsibility to ensure the young man follows the directions given by the Social Welfare Department.
The accused faced charges of aggravated burglary after he and others broke into a residence in Korovutu, Ba, by removing the louvre blades from a kitchen window while the homeowner was away. Justice Hamza noted that, in his view, the level of harm caused could be classified as low, stating that the items stolen were of minimal value and that there was no physical or psychological harm inflicted on the complainant.
During the sentencing process, it was revealed that the young man is now engaged in farming and admitted that poor judgment and peer pressure led to his criminal actions. Justice Hamza expressed optimism about the young man’s potential for rehabilitation, explaining that he sees it as appropriate to suspend the punishment while also emphasizing the need to deter similar offenses in the future and to protect the community. Thus, the judge decided to suspend the punishment for a period of seven years.