A serving prisoner today withdrew his appeal for a lighter sentence after being told off by the High Court.

Jone Moli is serving two and a half years for breaking into a resort and walking off with more than $8,000 in cash and other items including a digital camera, VISA cards and clothes.

Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo told Moli to reconsider his plea for a lighter sentence as an appeal would mean that the sentence will either go up or be reduced.

Justice Temo also stressed that he was not happy with the application as he regarded the two and a half year sentence too lenient as Moli's actions were cowardly and inhospitable.

Justice Temo also said that there are many people depending on the Tourism Industry to earn money and Fiji was struggling to sell Fiji as a tourist destination and such actions would result in hundreds of others not coming into the country.