BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Central Magistrate Court has sentenced two young men, one for three years and the other two years, for their involvement in a theft incident involving items worth $20,000 and $600 cash at a private residence earlier this year.
David Kausimae, 23, of Tawaeapa village, Malaita Province and a 17-year-old juvenile who cannot be named due to legal reasons were jointly charged with one count of burglary.
Both previously pleaded guilty to the charge.
Prosecution alleged that the two defendants on the night of January 23, 2026 at the Agape hilltop area broke in and entered the dwelling house of Rex Semaika with intent to steal.
The two defendants appeared at the Honiara Central Magistrate Court on Friday last week to receive their sentence.
Principal Magistrate Michael Fagani sentenced Mr Kausimae to three years imprisonment and the juvenile to two years imprisonment.
Fagani explained to them standing at the dock that their time spent in custody will be deducted each from their respective sentences with the remainder of their sentence to be served at the Rove Correctional Centre.
According to the agreed facts, both the defendants have prior criminal records where both had a similar case of committing burglary which they previously pleaded guilty to and was sentenced accordingly by the same court.
The court heard that the burglary incident occurred on January 23, of this year at around 1.30am at the complainant’s residence at Agape Hilltop, West Honiara.
Court documents revealed that the complainant had suffered an estimated valued items loss of $10,000 as a result of the defendants’ actions.
Mr Samaika who is the complainant was asleep when Mr Kausimae forcefully bent the door knob of the front entrance of his dwelling house and gained entry with intent to steal.
The juvenile acted as the look-out person to receive the stolen items from the first defendant who entered the dwelling house, the court heard.
Kausimae removed the stolen properties and passed it to the other defendant who was waiting at the Jacob’s ladder at the alleged time of offending and both fled the scene with the stolen items, the court heard.
According to court documents, the defendant woke up around 5.30 am to take his morning jog. It was that time that the complainant discovered that the door knob of his house was bent by force. He later noticed that most of his properties and items were missing.
The matter was later reported to the White River Police. During the investigation, the police managed to recover some of the stolen items amongst others, an amoxicillin tablet.
Daisy Mosese prosecuted the case, and she represented the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). While, Daniel Onorio and Jeremy Saeni from the Public Solicitors Office represented the two defendants.
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