The Suva Magistrates Court today sentenced a 28-year-old man charged with shop breaking, entering and larceny to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years.

The court heard that on 26th October, 2006, Josaia Matai broke into Lokia Shopping Centre at Usher Street and stole assorted cigarettes, benzene light, chocolates, files, assorted perfumes, box of batteries, assorted tin stuffs and cash all valued at $2145.

In mitigation he told the court that he was 28-years-old, married with no children and was staying in Waibau doing farming.

He also told the court that he was released from the prison in 2007 and did not want to go back.

The Magistrate noted that he had previous similar convictions and committed a serious offence however considering his mitigation, his guilty plea and his attempt to rehabilitate his life, Magistrate Amani Rokotinaviti sentenced his to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years.