Two men who stole detonators to use for fishing were fined and given two and three year suspended sentences by Chief Justice Robin Webster on February 7 at the Nuku'’alofa Supreme Court.

Semisi Helu (44) of Fasi mo e afi and '‘Alekisanita Va'’eno (45) of Pelehake appeared in the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court last year pleading guilty on the charges of housebreaking and theft of the detonators worth $6,470 pa'’anga.

The court was told that in June 2002 the two men went to the Ministry of Works' storage warehouse located at Tapuhia Quarry, Vaini, and stole boxes of detonators intending to use it for deep-sea fishing.

Helu was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment which was suspended for three years; and Va...’eno was sentenced to two years imprisonment sentence but also suspended for two years.

Chief Justice Robin Webster told the two men that if they commit any crime within their suspended sentence period they would immediately serve each of their given prison sentences. In addition, he ordered them to pay a total amount of $3,200 each, which they are to pay a monthly due of $800 starting in March.

The legal counsel for the Crown was Sione Sisifa, and representing Helu was Mele Mangisi and for Va...’eno was Fatai Vaihu.