Repeat offender jailed for theft of meat worth $10,000 [1]
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 - 20:12
Sione Taione (41) was sentenced to 17-months' imprisonment for the theft of meat boxes to the value of $10,225 pa'anga from a refrigerated container belonging to a store in Fasi.
Hon. Mr. Justice Cooper sentenced him on 15 September at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.
In April this year, defendant pleaded guilty to one count of theft in that on 27 September 2021, he stole a quantity of boxes of different meat; beef, chicken wings and chicken from Xiyun Qian, to the value of $10,225.
The complainant owns Jilong stores and when he checked one of his refrigerated containers on 28 September 2021, he found the numerous boxes of meat had been taken.
The judge said what is less clear is how the defendant was identified or the circumstances of the arrest.
"All I am able to say is this, a person going by the nickname Ua Tolo was going around trying to sell on meat and that Tevunga Ramsay, a restaurateur, was approached and asked whether she was interested in any.
“The police became aware and the defendant was arrested, he was questioned by the police and admitted the offences."
“Meanwhile, the defendant is a recidivist; none of the goods were recovered; no apology was made to the complainant of this offence, and no compensation has been paid.
“I am told that the defendant has previous convictions before the Magistrates' Court in Tonga in 2010 and 2011 for drunkenness, for which he was fined and possession of illicit drugs, also disposed of by way of a fine.
“Prior to this he was living in Australia for a number of years, including from 2016-18 and was convicted there of offences of stalking/intimidation, traffic offences, entering drug premises, carrying a bladed weapon and failing to attend court proceedings,” said the judge.
The defendant then moved back to Tonga. This appeared to be the first offence he had committed since then.
The defendant admitted his guilt and cooperated with the police.
The judge sentenced him to 17-months' imprisonment, with the last six-months suspended for two-years on conditions.
His sentence was also back-dated to 14 July this year when he was detained in police custody.