The rules of the game have changed and the courts will now impose sentences of 6 years to life imprisonment for those found guilty of charges of robbery with violence.

That was the warning from High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo to a convicted prisoner who is trying to appeal a two and a half year sentence handed down by the Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of robbery with violence.

Judge Temo stressed that the High Courts are no longer following precedence from the New Zealand jurisdiction which recommends up to six years imprisonment for robbery with violence cases.

He said after the Fiji Court of Appeal ruling earlier, judges will now hand down harsh sentences of up to life imprisonment as society needs to be protected from these thugs who continue to raid homes, rob taxis and businesses.

Judge Temo also called on convicted prisoners who wish to appeal their sentence not to take advice from bush lawyers from within the prison walls as their sentence can be increased upon appeal.

He said those who want to terrorize society and make an easy living through robbing others should not think twice of their action.

He has given the convict time to think whether he still wants to appeal his sentence.