A 37-YEAR-OLD with 15 prior convictions has been sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment for his role in the violent robbery and assault of a Suva taxi driver.
Isimeli Batibalei was sentenced by Justice Daniel Goundar on September 16 after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of theft.
The court heard that on June 4, 2026, Batibalei and an accomplice hired a taxi driven by Ravneel Chand. During the ride, Batibalei, seated directly behind the driver, grabbed Mr Chand, and forcibly dragged him into the back seat while his accomplice took control of the vehicle.
Batibalei punched Mr Chand twice in the abdomen while he was restrained before dropping him off at the Valelevu bus stop. The pair fled in the taxi with his phone, wallet, cards, and $300 cash. The vehicle was recovered the following day, stripped of an equaliser, subwoofer, amplifiers, a tablet, and a wiring kit valued at $1350.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Goundar emphasised the vulnerability of taxi drivers, stating they have the right to carry out their work without fear of violence, detention, or dispossession.
Justice Goundar sentenced Batibalei to five years and four months’ imprisonment for aggravated robbery, alongside 12 months for each theft count, to be served concurrently.
Batibalei will serve a total effective sentence of five years and four months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years.
