A 24-year-old man from Hofoa in Tongatapu was sentenced to three years imprisonment for six counts including theft, housebreaking and indecent assault, on March 4 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Sione Maile Mafi appeared before Justice Robert Shuster and pleaded guilty to all charges that included three housebreaking, two thefts and one indecent assault charged committed in various homes in Hofoa, Tongatapu.

Justice Shuster in sentencing the accused, highlighted that these were very serious offences, including the indecent assault of a woman while she was sleeping in her home.

The accused who had served an initial six months imprisonment for similar offences, had re-offended and committed these crimes when released. He had since remained in police custody following his arrest in January 2011.

"My duty is to protect women and others from people like you and that is to lock you up", stressed Justice Shuster.

Hofoa

The court was told from August to November 2010 the accused committed six offences at homes at Hofoa.

On August 1 2010 he broke into the house of a complainant Tomasi Mahe and stole items, and pawned some to namely 'Alani Pahulu.

On the same month the accused entered the home premises of another complainant Seletute Manu and stole a lawn mower kept at the verandah.

He attempted to pawn this stolen item but the police caught him before he could sell it.

On November 6, 2010, he broke into the house of the complainant Anitita Niu while she was sleeping with her husband in the living room. The accused saw her and indecently assaulted her while she was sleeping.

Sentencing

Justice Shuster then sentenced the accused on count one of housebreaking to three years imprisonment, nine months for count two of theft, three years for the third count of housebreaking, nine months for count four of theft.

For a fifth count of housebreaking he received three years imprisonment and two years a sixth count of indecent assault.

The sentence was ordered to be served concurrently making three years in total with suspension of the last 12 months of the sentence on the condition that he completes the Salvation Army Drugs and Alcohol Awareness program.

This meant that Sione Mafi would only serve two years in prison.

The sentence is to be counted from January 18, 2011 the date when he was remanded into police custody.