A MAN who confesses to beating his mother with a sago-palm broom has been told to love, respect and care for his aging mother.
Bernard Kwato’o Maelasi in his 30’s was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, for this common assault charge.
Principal Magistrate Leonard Chite told Maelasi that in this jurisdiction and around the world that every child ought to render love, respect and care towards their parents, more needed when they are in their old age.
“This stems or emanates from this basic principle that, without them we would not be in this world today, this show their importance in our lives,” Mr Chite said.
“I must say that some children do not have the privilege to have either parent in their lives. While you have one, make use of this opportunity and privilege.
“You will only regret it when they’re gone,” Mr Chite told Maelasi.
Mr Chite said he does not agree that because of the unstable relationship between the accused’s parents that he should treat his mother like that.
“No one should ever do that to his or her own mother, she is in her 50’s and you are a grown man in your 30’s.
“Learn to resolve issues in a more rightful, proper and lawful way, other than, recourse to violence, because as soon as you embark on the route of violence, you are making your way to this court to face justice.
“No one is above the law,” Mr Chite added.
The court had heard that on 28 August 2017 at around 7pm at Papaho area, Maelasi swore at his mother when she asked him to fetch water at his sister’s house.
It was heard that he swore at her and then beat her shoulder and right face using a broom made of sago palm.
Mr Maelasi was also sentenced yesterday for two separate offences.
These were for the charges of simple larceny and consumption of liquor which he also pleaded guilty to, before Mr Chite.
The simple larceny offence is in relation to the incident on 1 September 2017 between 3am and 4am at Papaho area, Honiara, where Maelasi went into a relative’s home and stole a mobile phone.
The court heard Maelasi assisted police after his arrest and returned the mobile phone to his relative.
In relation to the consumption of liquor charge, Maelasi committed the offence back on 9 January 2013.
Police caught the accused and his friend sitting at the far end of the Wharf area, Honiara drinking Kwaso from a Szeba bottle.
Mr Chite imposed a five month jail term for the simple larceny charge but having considered the circumstances of the offending, the fact that the mobile phone was retrieved and the principle of totality, he ordered the five months to be fully suspended for two years as of yesterday.
He said this is on the condition that Maelasi will not commit any offence during the suspension period.
“A breach of this bond will result in the automatic reinstatement of the term suspended,” Mr Chite warned Maelasi.
Maelasi was given a bound over sentence for six months to keep the peace and of good behaviour in the sum of $600 for drinking Kwaso at the Honiara Wharf.
Mr Chite then ordered the seven months imprisonment and the suspended sentence to run congruently.
The time Maelasi spent in custody was also taken into account.
Maelasi was represented by William Kadi of Public Solicitor’s Office while Police Prosecutor Lyndon Adifaka appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
