A 30-year-old man of Mokani Village who entered the Prime Minister’s compound without permission was handed a seven-month jail term suspended for two years.
Waisea Naitini was sentenced by Magistrate Charles Ratakele at the Suva Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Earlier this month, Naitini pleaded guilty to a count of criminal trespass.
According to the unchallenged summary of facts, Mr Naitini was stopped by the security officials at the front gate of the compound on June 20 this year because he did not have any prior arrangement or authorisation to meet with the Prime Minister.
The next day, he scaled the fence at the back of the property but was subsequently arrested and taken to the Totogo Police Station.
In court, Naitini said his title as ‘sau turaga’ was being disputed by other villagers who wanted him removed, so he sought an authority greater than his village leaders — Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka — to declare him the rightful title holder.
The matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
