A POLICE officer has been convicted of stealing $450 from a man at Totogo Police Station in Suva.
Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne found Viliame Kabakaro guilty of one count of theft on September 15.
The court heard the victim, Saimoni Ratubatolu, was taken to Totogo Police Station on November 30, 2023, in relation to an allegation.
Mr Ratubatolu testified that an officer searched him and removed $450 from his possession. He later reported the money missing after police informed him it was not in their possession.
Mr Ratubatolu identified Kabakaro in court as the officer who had taken the money.
The magistrate also considered Kabakaro’s caution interview, in which he admitted taking the $450 and using it for his own purposes.
Magistrate Somaratne found Mr Ratubatolu to be a truthful and credible witness and said his evidence was corroborated by two police officers who confirmed Kabakaro had interacted with him at the station.
Kabakaro has 28 days to appeal.
