Any form of theft is same offence, court says

 By JACKLYN SIRIAS
A man who stole three pairs of shoes from a Taurama Valley residence in the National Capital District was set free yesterday after he spent six months in jail.
Waigani Committal Court magistrate John Kaumi told Joshua Walagamu that stealing, whether it involved something big or small, warranted similar penalties from the courts because the offences were the same.
Kaumi made the comment after reading Walagamu, 20, from Rigo in Central, his charge of stealing shoes valued at K1403 from a residence at Taurama Valley on January 3.
Kaumi told Walagamu: “Even if you steal a K1, K1000 or anything big or small, the charge would still be stealing and the same penalties would apply.”
He said he felt that Walagamu had learnt his lesson and warned him not to commit such offences again.
The public prosecutor elected to have Walagamu’s case proceed through the Grade five court.
The court heard that on Jan 3, Walagamu entered the residence without the consent of the owner and stole three pairs of Asics brand ladies’ shoes worth K1403.
He was caught on a CCTV camera installed inside the house.
The court used its discretion and released him since he had already spent six months in jail.