Young 16/11 offender ordered to do community service [1]
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 17:20. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 14:59.
Siosifa Kafalava (24) received a three years suspended sentence imposed by Chief Justice Anthony Ford at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on May 9.
Siosifa was charged with two counts of housebreaking and theft related to the E. M. Jones Ltd. store in central Nuku'alofa during the riots of November 16, 2006.
Chief Justice Ford said Kafalava went into town to see what was happening and instead of just observing he got caught up in the crimes and stole items from the E. M. Jones Ltd. but the police were able to recover it.
"You had a difficult upbringing and if it were not for your guilty plea I would have imposed 18 months imprisonment on each count," said the Chief Justice.
He therefore suspended the sentence for a period of two years based on conditions that Kafalava complete a Life Skills program at the Salvation Army and he must also carry out 80 hours of community work.