Man who damaged Bloody Ridge monument jailed
A YOUNG man who damaged and stole the engraved plaque on a monument at the newly declared Bloody Ridge National Park, east of Honiara, was jailed for two years, Friday.
Peter Tagana, 19, pleaded guilty to the charges of wilful & unlawful damage and simple larceny following his arrest Wednesday this week.
Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga in his sentencing remarks said what Tagana did was very disgraceful and one that does not speak well of our country.
“This is a case where out of nowhere whilst under the influence of liquor you intentionally removed this plaque from Bloody Ridge National Park monument without any good reason,” Mr Aulanga told the accused.
“This in my view is a very disgraceful act and one that does not speak well of our country especially if this kind of incident is conveyed to the outside world,” he continued.
Mr Aulanga said this shows how people disrespect state properties to the extent of damaging and unlawfully stealing the plaque from the monument.
Mr Aulanga said in his view, only those who are crazy and mentally ill are those who can destroy state properties to the extent of monuments.
“Because, I was trying to understand, why on earth people out of nowhere would just go and remove the plaque from the monument when everyone should respect it.”
Mr Aulanga said this kind of attitude in fact attract public condemnation.
He said if these kinds of matter come to court, the court must act in the public interest to ensure those who involved in this kind of behaviour must be seriously punished or in other words must be punished with a deterrence sentence.
“Therefore, in terms of sentence the most appropriate sentence the court has reached is a custodial sentence.”
He said this is to show how the courts cannot easily tolerate this kind of behaviour where people out of nowhere destroy, steal or remove state properties especially monuments that are currently in our country.
Mr Aulanga said in his view the fact that Tagana removed the plaque from its original position; he has caused unnecessary financial loss, and also resources in the event if it was going to be put back.
He said materials and man power is needed to put back the plaque.
The court before handing down the sentence considered Tagana’s early guilty plea, his age and that he is a first time offender.
The maximum sentence for wilful & unlawful damage offence is two years imprisonment while that of simple larceny is five years imprisonment.
Mr Aulanga imposed a one year imprisonment term for the unlawful damage and two years imprisonment was imposed for the simple larceny charge.
Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently because it occurred on the same date and time.
Tagana was warned that the sentence imposed on him is appropriate especially when the government is trying to preserve monuments currently in our country.
Mr Aulanga further warned Tagana had the plague was not recovered; the sentence imposed would be more than two years.
Tagana yesterday chose to enter his pleas and proceed with his case without the assistance of a lawyer.
In mitigation, he told the court he was sorry for what he did and promised not to commit the offence again.
When asked by Mr Aulanga if he removed the plaque because he was angry with the government, Tagana said, “No, I was just drunk.
He told the court he was drunk when he went and removed the engraved plate from the monument using his hands.
The court yesterday heard on the night of August 10, Tagana who was under the influence of liquor, went up to the monument at Blooding Ridge National Park and removed the plaque.
Police Prosecutor Iete Tebakota said some parts of the monument was broken when Tagana pulled the plaque from it.
He said Tagana then carried the plaque to a leaf hut beside the Lungga River and hid it there.
Mr Iete had asked the court to impose a custodial sentence given that Tagana damaged and stole the state property just two days after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare unveiled the monument.
The monument was declared opened by the prime minister on August 8 during the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal celebration.
The monument was dedicated to the men who lost their lives on the ridge during the Guadalcanal Campaign in 1942.
Blooding Ridge was declared a national park during that event as well.
The monument was funded by the government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
