Five juveniles convicted over a break-in and theft at Cuvu College in Sigatoka have been spared immediate imprisonment by the High Court in Lautoka, with the court instead imposing suspended sentences focused on rehabilitation and education.
Justice Sunil Sharma delivered the punishment and sentence on May 18 after the juveniles — identified only as C.B, S.B, D.N, I.A and R.S — pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated burglary, theft and damaging property.
A sixth accused, 19-year-old Ilioveri Levuiloa, also received a suspended sentence.
The court heard that between July 8 and 9 last year, the juveniles and the accused unlawfully entered the staff room at Cuvu College intending to retrieve a mobile phone confiscated from one of the students earlier that day.
During the break-in, a laptop belonging to a teacher was stolen and CCTV cameras inside the computer laboratory were damaged.
Police later recovered CCTV footage allegedly showing the group entering the school premises and forcibly entering the staff room and computer laboratory. The stolen laptop was also recovered.
The High Court noted that all five juveniles were first-time offenders aged between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the offences.
Justice Sharma said the offences were serious and identified several aggravating features, including the nighttime invasion of school property, breach of trust and increasing prevalence of property-related offending.
However, the judge also took into account the juveniles’ early guilty pleas, remorse, cooperation with police, family support and willingness to continue education and counselling.
“The juveniles are young persons as per the Juveniles Act and are of good character,” Justice Sharma stated in the ruling.
The court further noted that immediate imprisonment would negatively impact their rehabilitation and future prospects.
The juveniles were sentenced to one year, 10 months and 28 days imprisonment, but the sentence was suspended for three years effective immediately.
Their parents and guardians were also ordered to sign good behaviour bonds of $600 each.
Additionally, the juveniles’ families were directed to pay $20,000 for damages caused to the school premises, while the father of the first juvenile was separately ordered to pay $1,140 compensation for damaged CCTV cameras.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection has also been directed to arrange counselling, monitor the juveniles’ education and ensure they remain enrolled in training or educational institutions.
