Suspect pleads guilty

A SUSPECT in the foiled robbery of the Best Buy supermarket in Lae appeared before the National Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery.
Alo Lembum Rex Junior, 28, from Kopa village, Kabwum district, Morobe province, appeared before National Court judge Justice Sao Gabi.
The court heard that the accused was among other suspects who entered the Best Buy supermarket last Sept 3 at around 4pm and hid in the shop until after 5pm when the shop had closed with intent to hold up the staff and rob them.
The court heard the accused and his accomplices, who were armed with two home-made guns, a pistol and bush knives, held up the store floor manager and led him to the cash section.
The court heard that the accused and his accomplices voluntarily surrendered to police after the shop’s security guards alerted the police before they could make off with the day’s takings.
The accused asked the court for a lenient sentence as he had a child and three others in his custody.
The court heard that the accused was an electrician by trade, who had resigned from his job and had set up a coffee garden and a piggery project in Kabwum.
He asked the court to consider leniency and to return to his village to tend to his self-help projects and to look after the children under his care.
Justice Gabi adjourned his ruling on sentence to next Wednesday after receiving submissions from the defence lawyer Mwagawa Mwawesi from the Public Solicitor’s office and Joel Done, lawyer for the State from the Public Prosecutor’s office.
 

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