A conspiracy between workers at a local lumber store to steal from the company has backfired badly, landing them in jail instead.
The three men, who worked at Bluebird Lumber and Hardware Store, were convicted of theft as a servant at the end of an assessor trial.
As a result, Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava’asu’e Falefatu Sapolu jailed them.
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Amato Fa’asolo, 53, has been given a sentence of 18 months imprisonment. The other two defendants, Filemu Sinaumea, 33, and Okei Lino, 49, were both jailed for 12 months each.
In handing out the sentences, Chief Justice Patu said he hopes this would send out a message to members of the public that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.
He said the men were dishonest and they need to be taught a lesson about abusing the trust of their employer.
“You have violated the trust given to you by the owner of the company,” his Honour said.
Chief Justice Patu said theft as a servant has become very common among workers and the offense worries him. It is why the Court needs to stand firm and make sure the penalties warn members of the community that stealing is not worth it.
During the hearing, the Court heard that the conspiracy occurred in February this year.
It happened when a customer visited the store to make an order that would have earned the company $15,000.
While he was looking around inside, Fa’asolo had apparently approached him and offered to get him the goods for a cheaper price.
Fa’asolo then told the man to go home and he would visit him at his house later.
Back at work, Fa’asolo made a deal with Sinaumea and Lino, who were security officers, to turn a blind eye to what was about to happen.
He then arranged for the man’s order and it cost $8,662.
Faasolo contacted the customer and told him the details about when to pick up the order.
When the first load was uplifted, the man gave Fa’asolo $3,000 cash.
For the second load, the man gave Fa’asolo another $1,500.
The Court heard that the money was split between the defendants.
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