A married man convicted of deliberately setting fire to his brother’s house, resulting in a loss of $40,000, has been sentenced to three years in jail with a non-parole period of two years.
Iliesa Colaivalu pleaded guilty to a count of arson committed on January 27 last year.
Court records show Colaivalu returned to his brother’s home from his farm at Kalaba Settlement on Ovalau and intentionally burnt the house using matches and old rags before fleeing the scene.
At the time, his brother was asleep in the house. He awoke to intense heat as the fire rapidly engulfed the three-bedroom dwelling. The uninsured house and all its contents were destroyed.
According to the caution interview, Colaivalu committed the act as a result of an ongoing dispute between his aunt and his brother’s wife over ownership of the property.
His criminal history includes a conviction for acts intended to cause grievous harm and burglary, resulting in a six-month prison sentence.
“The use of fire to resolve family property disputes must be denounced and deterred,” stated Justice Daniel Goundar on August 29.
“Suspension is inappropriate due to the seriousness of the offence.”
Colaivalu will serve his sentence concurrently with any pre-existing sentence.