The High Court in Lautoka has sentenced three juveniles to two years’ imprisonment each for aggravated burglary, with the sentences fully suspended for seven years, after they admitted breaking into Votualevu Public School and stealing sports equipment.
In a decision delivered on 15 December 2025, Justice Riyaz Hamza said the offending caused low harm, noting that the stolen items were of relatively low value, there was limited damage to property and no violence was used.
The three boys, aged between 14 and 15 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft.
“The stolen property was not of a reasonably high value and there was limited damage or disturbance to property. Furthermore, no violence was used or threatened,” Justice Hamza said.
The court heard that on 19 October 2024, the juveniles entered the school premises as trespassers and took two soccer balls, four rugby balls and a volleyball net. All items were later recovered and returned. The boys made full admissions during police interviews and cooperated with investigators.
Justice Hamza imposed concurrent sentences of two years’ imprisonment for aggravated burglary and one year for theft, resulting in a total effective sentence of two years for each offender. However, the court suspended the sentences after considering their age, lack of previous convictions and prospects of rehabilitation.
“You are all young offenders. You are first offenders… you have accepted responsibility for your conduct and expressed genuine remorse,” the judge said, adding that the chances of rehabilitation were “high”.
In addition to the suspended sentences, the court ordered that all three juveniles be placed under probation supervision by the Department of Social Welfare for two years. Counselling is to be provided to the boys in the presence of their parents, with support also extended to families to improve parenting skills.
Justice Hamza warned the juveniles of the consequences of breaching the suspended sentence and said the orders were necessary to deter similar offending and protect the community.
