A YOUNG man has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for assisting another man in stealing a generator belonging to the Tulagi Hospital on Christmas Day last year.
Hendry Matena, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of Housebreaking, contrary to section 300 (a) with section 21 of the Penal Code (Cap 26).
He was sentenced by Principal Magistrate Michael Fagani yesterday during the Tulagi court circuit in the Central Islands Province.
The court had heard that on 25 December 2024, the main suspect Stephen Lagi – who had been dealt with during a previous Tulagi court circuit – cut open the gate of the Tulagi Hospital and removed the generator.
Lagi later informed Matena about the generator.
At that time, Matena was unaware that it had been stolen.
He then assisted Lagi to carry the generator from the hospital gate to a canoe, and together they paddled to Naeli Village, where they hid the generator.
The following day, a Tulagi hospital worker discovered that the generator was missing.
Following police investigations, the generator was recovered and both Lagi and Matena were arrested and charged.
During sentencing submissions, Public Prosecutor Jeremy Oiofa urged court to impose a starting point of two years or more before considering mitigating factors.
He told the court that the sentence should send a clear message to the community that such offending will not be tolerated, and that there is need for specific deterrence to discourage similar conduct.
In mitigation, Jayson Anisi of the Public Solicitor’s Office told the court that Matena is currently attending vocational rural training centre and is preparing for his graduation.
He asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.
However, Magistrate Fagani said the offence was serious and warranted a custodial sentence.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
