A man charged with 34 counts of larceny, forgery, uttering forged documents and obtaining goods on forged documents and already serving a suspended sentence was sentenced to five and a half years by the Suva Magistrates Court this morning.

The court heard that on 4th December 2008, Samisoni Tuinukunuku was doing voluntary work at the Muanikau Police Post when he saw an old ANZ cheque book of the Muanikau Officers Welfare Fund with some other rubbish that was ready to be burnt.

Tuinukunuku picked up that cheque and tore 15 cheque leafs and within a span of 20 days withdrew cash and obtained goods worth more than $2000.

On 31 December a complaint was lodged and after investigations Tuinukunuku was arrested.

In mitigation, he told the court that he was 46 years old, unemployed and that his children's education has come to a standstill and he was remorseful.

Magistrate Irani Arachchi while sentencing Tuinukunuku said that he was not a first offender and that he was on a suspended sentence but committed the offence within three months however considering his mitigation factors and his children, she sentenced him to five and half years.