By Linny Folau
Siaosi Halaholo Vete (42) was sentenced to two years imprisonment for three charges including serious housebreaking and theft of property totaling at around $46,798 from his sister’s home, in order to feed his methamphetamine habit.
The Prosecution revealed that the accused, from ‘Anana, stole from his sister and her husband’s residence. The first incident was on 17 October 2023, when his sister ‘Ilaisaane's husband 'Alifeleti returned from New Zealand to his residence, a double storey house.
'Alifeleti entered his home and noticed that eight traditional woven baskets (kato alu) that were displayed on a shelf inside had been stolen. The value of the baskets was $16,000. On the next morning, 18 October 2023, he was looking around his house to see what else had gone missing. He was surprised when the accused opened the door from one of the bedrooms.
The accused told 'Alifeleti that he had entered through one of the doors using a ladder and he had pawned the kato alu. He took four kato alu to another person to check if he knew anyone whom he could sell it to.
A complaint was lodged to the Police regarding the missing kato alu. The accused was arrested on 1 February 2024, and was subsequently charged with serious housebreaking and theft.
The accused cooperated with the Police and admitted to the offending. He also informed the Police that he entered the house of the complainants without their consent through a sliding door, using a ladder.
A second incident occurred between 23 December 2023 to 29 January 2024, when the couple were abroad. They packed most of their valuable belongings and hid them inside their vehicle. Upon returning home, they found that the belongings they had put into their vehicle had been stolen. The stolen items and their value included three large kato alu baskets, kiekie, perfumes, cameras, speakers, jewelleries, clothes, handbags, and alcohol among other items.
On 1 February 2024, the sister made another complaint to the Police regarding the stolen items from the vehicle. The accused was interviewed by the Police on 5 February and admitted to the offence.
He stated that he broke into the vehicle using a piece of wood and a coat hanger and took the items that were stored in the vehicle. He voluntarily showed to the Police where the stolen items were. The Police could only recover some of the stolen items. The accused cooperated with the Police and admitted to the offending.
He had previous convictions, stated the Prosecution.
Jail time
On 12 November, Lord Chief Justice Bishop sentenced the accused at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa. This was after, he pleaded guilty to the three counts, one of serious housebreaking and two counts of theft earlier in September.
He stated that while the owner of the property in question was abroad he took the opportunity to break into their home and steal goods on two occasions. The first instance to the value of $16,000 and the second to the value of $30,798. Many of the goods had not been recovered.
“What is singularly reprehensible about your conduct was that the property in question was the home of your sister who was away with her husband at the time. It is said that you behaved in this way to pawn the goods to feed your methamphetamine habit. That is a common occurrence among drugs users but, of course, it is no defence and, in my view, no mitigation.”
The Lord Chief Justice stated in addition the accused had previous convictions though none for theft.
“To their credit your sister and her husband I am told have forgiven you for what you did... and I bear it in mind in determining whether to suspend part of the custodial sentence, which in your case I consider inevitable.
He said what the accused did was part of a concerted enterprise.
The starting point for sentencing was three years and six months, which the judge reduced by 12 months in light of an early guilty plea and a further six months “to acknowledge the attitude of the losers and the prospects which that suggest may lead to a repair of family relations.”
“The Probation Officer recommended a fully suspended sentence for the accused with conditions if he was willing to treat his methamphetamine addictions. I took the contents of this report into account in considering the accused's sentence,” he said.
For the charges on the indictment of one count of serious housebreaking and two counts of theft, the Lord Chief Justice sentenced him to a term of two years imprisonment with the last six months suspended for six months on conditions that included not committing any further offence punishable by imprisonment.
This was in addition to being placed under probation during the term of his suspended sentence, he must report to the Probation Office within 24 hours of his release from custody and must live where directed by the Probation Officer.
The accused will serve 18 months of imprisonment for the offences. He will then continue to serve six months of a suspended sentence for a previous conviction, ordered the Lord Chief Justice.
