Five juveniles who broke into Sigatoka Valley Secondary School and stole Year 12 examination papers have been spared immediate imprisonment after the Lautoka High Court imposed suspended jail terms, citing their age, remorse and prospects for rehabilitation.
In a ruling delivered on 9 July 2026, High Court Judge Aruna Aluthge sentenced each of the five juveniles to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for three years, and ordered that they remain under the supervision of a Welfare Officer during the suspension period.
The juveniles had pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated burglary and theft after admitting they broke into the principal’s office at Sigatoka Valley Secondary School on the night of 10 November 2025 and stole Fiji Year 12 examination papers, including Computer Studies, Chemistry, Technical Drawing and Vosa Vakaviti examination papers valued at $2.74.
The court heard the burglary had been planned in advance, with some of the youths bringing a kitchen knife and cello tape to remove louvre blades and gain entry into the office. Some of the stolen examination papers were later voluntarily surrendered to Police during the investigation.
Justice Aluthge said the theft of examination papers was a serious matter because it had the potential to affect every student sitting the examinations.
“The courts have emphasised that the increasing prevalence of burglaries in our community calls for deterrent punishments. The stealing of examination papers from the juvenile’s own school is a serious matter. However, first-time and young delinquents must be allowed to rehabilitate themselves.”
The judge noted that although the monetary value of the stolen property was very low, the wider impact on the integrity of the national examinations made the offending more serious.
Justice Aluthge also found the youths’ culpability was not low because the offence involved pre-planning and was committed at night after ensuring the principal’s office was unoccupied.
Despite those aggravating features, the court considered several mitigating factors, including that all five offenders were under 18 at the time, had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, co-operated with Police, recovered part of the stolen property and showed genuine remorse.
The judge said the offenders deserved an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
“They should be given a second chance to rehabilitate. A suspended punishment fits the offence and the offenders.”
Justice Aluthge ordered that each juvenile serve an 18-month prison sentence suspended for three years, warning that any further offending during the suspension period could result in the sentence being activated. They will also remain on probation under the supervision of a Welfare Officer.
