Police have charged two teenage boys aged 16 and 17 with assaulting and robbing a 61-year-old Chinese woman in Lapaha on Sunday night 18 March. According to Police, the woman was hit on the head with a rock.

The woman, Rui Yun Chen, remains in hospital and is in stable condition. Police believe that both of the accused had been sniffing benzine prior to the offense.

The alleged assault was reported to have occurred at around 9:00pm when the two accused allegedly knocked on the door of the shop to buy cigarettes before forcing their way into the store, attacking Miss Chen and later fleeing with cash, cigarettes and other items.

The two accused remain in custody to appear before the Magistrate’s Court next week.