A 21-year-old man, who broke into his uncle’s liquor shop and stole alcohol and also stole a guitar from a church in Isabel Province, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Zivoka Lamani Orodo pleaded guilty to two counts of Housebreaking and committing Felony and one count of Simple Larceny.
In his sentencing remark on Tuesday, Principal Magistrate Felix Hollison stated that it was disturbing to note that the defendant and his accomplices had the audacity to steal from an important institution such as a church, which is considered a scared place in religious context.
“Moreover, it is a breach of trust on his part when he entered his uncle’s shop and stole the cartons of beers, Magistrate Hollison added.
“I hope these sentences will send a strong message of deterrence to the general public that breaking into other people’s homes to commit a crime and stealing from another person’s property have severe consequences,” he further added.
The two housebreaking incidents occurred between 22 and 23 January 2022 in the Gailehena area in Hovikoilo Ward.
Prior to the offending, the complainant invited Orodo to assist him carry cartons of beer into his liquor shop.
Orodo had a spare key to the shop.
According to the facts of the case, on 22 January 2022, the complainant conducted a stock take and recorded four cartons of Whiskey Cola beer and three cartons of Sara Whiskey beers.
After conducting the inventory check, he locked his liquor shop and returned to his village.
Orodo unlawfully entered the liquor shop on two occasions on 22 and 23 January 2022 and took two cartons of whiskey cola using the spare key.
On 23 January 2024, the complainant realised that two cartons of whiskey cola were missing from his shop and that the key to the main door of the shop was also missing.
The complainant, his wife, children and several other villagers then accompanied the complainant to his shop in an effort to identify the individual responsible for stealing the cartons of beer.
During their search, they discovered footprints behind the shop and followed them. The footprints led them directly to Orodo’s house.
Upon arrival at Orodo’s house, they observed that he was still drinking and the area surrounding his house was littered with empty cans of the beer.
The matter was reported to the Buala Police.
On another date, 25 January 2024 in the evening, Orodo and three other boys were also drinking beer.
They had no musical instruments for entertainment and decided to go and take a guitar owned by the Christian Revival Crusade (CRC) Church in Buala Village.
Orodo and two of his two friends stole the guitar to use whilst drinking beer.
On that same day at around 8pm, the pastor of the CRC Church discovered the electric guitar missing.
The guitar was hidden in one of Orodo’s friend’s residence for a few days.
A few days later, Orodo’s friend took the guitar to Orodo at Sorusitana, an area located a few kilometers west of Buala, and hid it in an old abandoned house.
On 2 February 2024, one of the witnesses saw a black electric guitar covered with a blue canvas and dried coconut fronds in a drain at Sorusitana, where Orodo’s residence is located.
The guitar was then retrieved and returned to the church.
Kevin Maelanga of the Public Solicitor’s Office represented Orodo, whilst Public Prosecutor Jonathan Auga appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
