A hospital pharmacy attendant pleaded guilty to one count of theft yesterday in the Lautoka Magistrates Court.
Legal Aid Commission lawyer Salaseini Naivaluvou told Magistrate Jude Nanayakkara that her client Nemani Baleinamana wished to enter a guilty plea.
FICAC Prosecutor Shalini Sanmogam told the court that on 27th September this year, FICAC was informed that Baleinamana was selling medicine to a private doctor in Lautoka.
He was arrested that afternoon for allegedly stealing 42 bags of Sodium Chloride from the Lautoka Hospital Pharmacist Storage.
Sanmogam said that Principal Pharmacist of the Lautoka Hospital, Asaeli Raikabakaba, has identified the stolen items to be the property of the hospital.
In mitigation, Naivalou told the court that her client was the sole breadwinner for his four children and wife.
She said that while the defence understood that the matter was a serious offence, her client was remorseful and seeking forgiveness and was willing to pay back the sum owed.
Naivalou tendered a letter from the Ministry of Health, stating that the accused was still employed by them.
Magistrate Nanayakkara submitted that this was a serious matter and amounted to a breach of trust.
The matter has been adjourned to 9th November 2010 for Baleinamana to be sentenced.
Story by: Sneh Chaudhry
