BY ROMINAH FAKA
An 18-year-old boy has been sentenced to one year imprisonment after pleading guilty to house break-in.
The sentence was handed down Tuesday this week by Principal Magistrate Elma Veenah Rizzu Hilly at the Magistrate Court.
Jeremy Saemala, 18, was convicted of one count of housebreaking, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
In delivering sentence, Magistrate Hilly emphasised the court’s responsibility to uphold key sentencing principles, including deterrence, rehabilitation, reintegration, and punishment.
“It is important that the sentence you receive must teach you a lesson that will prevent you from repeating the same offending or any other offence in the future.
“It also serves as a warning to those who are planning to commit the same offence. This court will not tolerate such behaviour.”
The court highlighted several aggravating factors in the case. The offence was committed around 4am on March 9, 2025 during hours when the victim is typically asleep.
Ms Hilly noted that homes should be safe and secure places, and the defendant violated that sanctity.
Further aggravating factors included the use of a weapon and evidence of premeditation.
Saemala used a stick, curved like a hook, to steal electronic gadgets through a window after removing its louvres.
The stolen items included an OPPO phone, a Samsung tablet, a JBL Flip 6 speaker, and a Huawei power bank.
“The manner in which the offence was committed peeping through the window, removing the louvers, and using a hooked stick to steal the items shows clear planning,” Hilly noted.
Mitigating factors include Saemala being a first-time offender, unemployed and comes from a broken home.
He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and showed remorse for his actions.
Court found that these mitigating factors did not outweigh the harshness of the crime but were taken into account in determining the sentence.
Police recovered the stolen items later the same day after Saemala led them to their locations.
The OPPO phone and JBL speaker were found in his room, while the other items were retrieved from friends to whom he had given. All stolen property was returned to the victim.
Given the seriousness of the offence and the clear planning involved, the court ruled that an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.
Saemala was therefore, sentenced to one year in prison and time spent in custody to be considered.
Irene Mae appeared for the crown and Jennifer Happilyn for defendant.
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