A YOUNG man has been sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison for stealing $8,000 in cash from his relative’s bedroom in July at Tamboko Village, Northwest Guadalcanal.
Bendito Tavechikai, 27, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Burglary.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea handed down the sentence this week and said it was intended to deter the accused and others from committing similar offences
He also advised Tavechikai to take part in rehabilitation programs while in prison so that he can change his behavior and live as a law-abiding citizen upon release.
The court heard Tavechikai committed the offence around the midnight of 18 July this year, when he entered the complainant’s unlocked house and stole two Lavalavas and $8,000 in cash from the bedroom.
The complainant’s granddaughters arrived while he was still inside and saw him with a bag.
When confronted, he falsely claimed he was chasing another intruder.
Tavechikai later went to a nearby fundraising event where he sold the lavalavas for $50 to a woman, and boasted of having $8,000 in his possession.
When questioned about the money, he lied that he chased after thieves inside the complainant’s house and the thieves dropped the money while running away.
The next day, the woman who bought the Lavalavas informed the complainant, who identified them as hers.
She refunded the $50 and returned to her house where she found her room messed up and $8,000 missing.
By that time Tavechikai had already left the village.
Police later located him on 22 July in Lambi, West Guadalcanal, and arrested him.
Only $2,000 was recovered.
The sentence was ordered to be backdated to when Tavechikai was first remanded in custody.
Thompson Fiuga of the Public Solicitors’ Office represented Tavechikai, while Public Prosecutor Collin Rohoana appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
