Mosese ‘Ofa (36) was sentenced to two and a half-years jail for the unlawful imprisonment of two people whom he held at gunpoint at a beach in Ha’ateiho earlier this year.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of discharging a firearm (spring operated air rifle) with intent to intimidate; possession of arm without a license; and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.

Hon. Mr Justice Cato sentenced him to two and a half-years imprisonment and suspended the final 12-months on condition that he does not commit any offence during his suspension period.

The accused from Ha'ateiho, who had no previous conviction, cooperated with Police.

Gunpoint

The Crown submitted the offences occured on February 24 at Liku Beach, with complainants Paula Taulani (22) and Beatrice Lavemai (20).

The two had driven to the beach and parked there. They got off from the front seats and sat at the back seats.

At this time, the accused was already at the beach with his two dogs to bath them in the sea. He had the air rifle with him.

When the accused returned from the sea with his dogs, he saw the complainant's vehicle parked, with the front window rolled down.

He slid the gun through the front passenger's window and pointed the rifle at Paula. He swore at Paula to get out of the vehicle and walk down to the beach.

Paula got out of the vehicle and walked down towards the beach, while the accused still pointed the gun to his back.

When Paula got down to the sand, he looked back up and saw the accused walking to the vehicle and pointed the gun at Beatrice.

He then told Beatrice to get out of the vehicle and walk to the bush. 

Beatrice got out and walked to the bush, while the accused still pointed the gun at her back. At this time, Paula started walking back up because he was worried about Beatrice.

When the accused saw Paula walking up, he turned towards him and swore at him to stop, Paula kept walking up. The accused then fired the gun into the air.

The Crown submitted, Paula was terrified and cried but he kept walking back up.

Beatrice was in the bush when she heard the gunshot and thought that the accused had shot Paula. 

When the accused saw that Paula kept coming up, the accused told him that he was “a real man” and apologised. He told Paula that he was only testing him whether he really loved his girlfriend.

He then apologised to the two and left with his dogs.

Paula lodged a complaint with the Police on February 26.