BY MELVILLE TITIULU
A man has pleaded guilty to stealing 16 packets of cigarettes and intimidating a market vendor at Savo Market last year.
Justine Kimo, 27, of Kakabona, North West Guadalcanal pleaded guilty to one count of Simple Larceny, contrary to section 261(1) of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) and one count of Intimidation and Molestation, contrary to section 231(1) of the Penal Code (Cap. 26) at the Central Magistrate Court on Monday this week.
Complainant Thomson Surasi, 42, was working as a market vendor at Savo Market, West Honiara.
It is alleged that on December 1, 2025, between 4am and 5am, the complainant was asleep inside his betelnut market stall at Savo Market.
The defendant approached the stall and took 16 packets of cigarettes from the shelves. He then left the market area.
Nearby vendors informed the complainant when he woke up.
While the complainant and other vendors were discussing the theft, they saw the defendant walking past the market area.
The complainant and several bystanders confronted the defendant and accused him of stealing the cigarettes. This led to a tense exchange between the parties.
The defendant picked up a stone and threw it in the direction of the complainant. The stone did not strike him, but the complainant ran away in fear.
Police attended the scene soon after and arrested the defendant. He was then taken to White River Police Station for further investigation.
Prosecution told court the 16 packets of cigarettes were never recovered and that a reconciliation was not held to resolve the matter.
After the defendant entered his guilty plea, the matter went straight for mitigation and sentencing plea.
Aggravating features include, firstly, that the defendant was intoxicated at the time the offence was committed.
Secondly, that the complainant was asleep when the defendant stole those 16 cigarette packs and was intimidated by the defendant.
Thirdly, that the defendant has previous convictions for the offence of burglary.
Prosecution recommended a custodial sentence for both 10 years subject to courts discretion to reflect the seriousness of the offence.
Defence in response, said the defendant is a law abiding and has potential to be rehabilitated and intergraded into society.
Defence proposes that the court use a proportionate principle of sentencing where previous records be weighed. That each case be decided on its own merit and that individual and societal factors should be considered.
Defence said the defendant has taken an early guilty plea, and that saves court’s time and resource.
Secondly, that his client genuinely felt remorseful for his actions.
Thirdly, the defendant is the sole breadwinner for his family, a father of three children, with eldest in grade 6 and has an unemployed wife. He is a taxi driver.
Defence said if his client was given a custodial sentence that would really hit hard on his household.
The matter was adjourned for mention for Monday, March 2 for sentencing.
In the meantime, Bail was extended for the defendant.
Constable Sam Gii from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution represents the complainant while Harry Luahiti, senior legal officer of the Public Solicitors Office represents the defendant in this matter.
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