Two men have been jailed for robbing a retired schoolteacher and her disabled son at their home in Samabula on January 22, 2023.
At the High Court in Suva yesterday Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu handed Mosese Vuniwai, 27, six months for serious assault which would run concurrent to his six-year term for aggravated robbery, with a non-parole period of five years.
His accomplice Jashneel Pillay, 26, was sentenced to eight years and five months with a non-parole period of seven years for aggravated robbery.
The duo, with third co-accused Joseva Tuidama and another person, had entered the bedroom of the sleeping 69-year-old woman and her son.
One of them covered her mouth while holding a cane knife against her neck as the other three ransacked the house. They tried fleeing in a get-away vehicle but were caught by the police.
Tuidama pleaded guilty and was sentenced on November 10, 2023, to five years and four months with a non-parole period of four years.
“The home invaders and robbers also subjected (the victim) to an extensive degree of emotional and psychological harm of trauma that may require appropriate treatment, counselling or otherwise, to enable her to cope and, hopefully, recover,” Justice Bulamainaivalu said in his judgment.
“The malevolent conduct of the perpetrators, including the considerable items stolen despite their recovery by the police, clearly showed total disregard by the perpetrators of the sanctity of one’s home and utility of the victim’s personal properties, including their lives, comfort and security.”
