THE mitigation and sentencing submissions for one of the robbers who took part in the $4million Westpac Bank robbery in 2015 has been again deferred to March 17.
And this time it is for the defence counsel to go through the proposed agreed facts first before the submissions can be made in court.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo therefore gave time for Public Solicitor’s lawyer Ben Alasia to do that.
Jonathan Wanefiolo had pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery for involving in the robbery that occurred on the morning of January 26, 2015 at the Westpac Bank at Point Cruz.
He would be the second person to be sentenced following the sentence of his co-accused, Gabi Selo early last month in the High Court.
Selo was jailed for eight years.
This was after he pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and grievous harm charge for cutting off the wrist of a security officer during the commission of the offending.
All other accused, Harry Lilimae, Stanley Waneakwasia, Patterson Amos Otokwai and Dudley Baemalia denied the charges, and are awaiting trial.
Their trial was listed for July 10 to July 28.
They appeared yesterday for the interim mention of their matter and will appear together with Wanefiolo on the next court date for another interim mention.
Two security officers were wheeling out money boxes to a waiting vehicle outside the bank when the alleged robbers grabbed two boxes containing $4million.
One of the security officers wheeling the money out was Lilimae. They were security officers working for Alert Protective Service.
Both security officers were attacked but Lilimae was left unharmed while his colleague got his wrist chopped off.
The court heard that Lilimae masterminded the robbery.
Outside the bank, the five men took off in a car heading west a very high speed.
After a police and public chase the car crashed at Kakabona.
The alleged robbers quickly disembarked from the crashed car with knives, threatening anyone approaching them.
Police managed to arrest some of them on the spot, others that escaped police also arrested later.
Police also managed to retrieve $3.7million, the other $200,000 is still missing.
However, last year a young man by the name of Bartholomew Bara admitted in court that he stole $20,000 of the missing money.
Bara is currently serving 12 months in jail for that incident.
Public Prosecutor Florence Joel is prosecuting.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
