A 15-year-old boy was sentenced to one year in prison for being part of group of men who broke into a liquor shop at Kukum and stole 83 cartoons of alcohol.
The juvenile who cannot be named for legal reasons was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of shop breaking.
Principal Magistrate Fatima Taeburi when sentencing the juvenile advised him to learn from this case and refrain from repeating the same mistake again.
“There is so much in life than spending time behind bars,” she told the young teen.
She further advised the accused to return to his parents’ home after he is released from prison.
The court had heard that the accused lives with his friends in spite of his parents being alive and living together.
Ms Taeburi told the accused that at his age and stage in his life, it is vital that he receives teachings and nurturing from his parents.
“The responsibility that parents acquire to teach, nurture, care and love their children is a blessing that is given by God.
“Hence, you must give the opportunity to your parents to fulfil their responsibility to you,” she added.
Ms Taeburi also advised the juvenile to choose his friends carefully after he served his sentence.
“At this stage of your life, the pressure and impact from your peers or friends is very influential.
“If you want to associate yourself with the wrong group it is highly possible that you will engage yourself in activities that will not be fruitful for yourself.”
The court had heard that on an unknown date between 3 and 4 February this year, at about 4am to 5am, the accused with some other boys broke into a bottle shop at Kukum.
The complainant in this matter is the owner of the Low Price Enterprise in Honiara.
It was heard the group gained entry into the bottle shop by breaking into the front window of the shop.
After the window was opened, the juvenile and another young boy climbed into the space and went into the shop.
They carried the cartons of beers and passed the cartons through the open window to other boys who were waiting outside.
The items stolen were a carton of Sara Special, 22 cartons of Canoe Blue, 13 Cartons of Whiskey Cola, 32 Cartons of Solbrew Can, 15 cartons of Saratoga and 12 bottles of Solbrew.
The total value of the items stolen is $19,530.
The juvenile carried out a total of seven cartons of beers and also took $400.
In mitigation it was heard, the $400 was given to the older boys in the group.
The defence also submitted that the juvenile did not receive any form of benefit from the stolen cartons of beer.
The defence further submitted that because of the juvenile’s small body size, he was directed and used by the older boys in the group to climb into the window of the shop.
The sentence imposed was ordered to be backdated to 29 March this year to when the juvenile was first remanded in custody.
The matters of the juvenile’s co-accused Joe Ririmae and Fred Lui are pending before the Honiara Magistrate’s Court.
Another of their co-accused Junior Ratu was already sentenced to two years in prison at a previous court date.
The juvenile was represented by Lazarus Waroka of Public Solicitor’s Office while Public Prosecutor Monica Rehomora appeared for the Crown.
BY ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Newsroom, Honiara
