An intoxicated plumber who smashed through the Frankies Supermarket glass door at SNPF Plaza was ordered by the Supreme Court to use his skill to assist charitable organisations as part of his community work.  

Mani Kopa of Ululoloa and Fatuvalu was recently convicted by the Supreme Court on charges of burglary, intentional damage and armed with a dangerous weapon. 

His offending followed a night out at the RSA nightclub and had been drinking Taula Strong. The incident happed around February this year. 

According to the summary of facts, the plumber left the RSA bar around 7 pm heading towards the NBS Bank before Police stopped him because he was drunk and told him to take a taxi home. 

The defendant left the NBS Building in the taxi and went towards the SNPF Plaza where he stopped the cab got out and went straight to the Frankies Supermarket. 

He was armed with a block of cement throwing it at the glass door and later tried to open the door. 

Police officers in the area saw what Kopa was doing, stopped him, and arrested him on that night. 

The defendant told the Probation Service he had no recollection of the events and his first memory after the drink-up was waking up in the police cell. 

Kopa is 25-years-old and is a qualified plumber working for Samoa Water Authority. 

The victim of the offending is Frankie Supermarket who said in their Victim Impact Report that no apology or restitution has been paid for the damage caused. 

Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke told the defendant that if he had gone into the store and done what was probably on his mind, today’s outcome would have been quite different for him. 

“You are very fortunate that the police were there that evening,” said Justice Clarke.

“It is clear Mani that when you drink alcohol to the state of drunkenness, you became obscene. 

“It is then important for you to change your life and your drinking habits. You are therefore to be congratulated for completing the Salvation Army Program.” 

The Court urged the defendant to continue to learn to control his drinking. 

“If you return to drinking sessions after work with your friends and drink until you are drunk, there will be a strong likelihood you will come back before the courts, and next time, you might end up at Tanumalala. That would be a huge waste of a very talented young man such as yourself.”

Justice Clarke convicted Kopa on all charges. He was sentenced to six months of supervision and ordered 100 hours of community work. 

“You are a qualified plumber,” he said. 

“Probation Service is urged to utilise your skills to assist charitable organisations and other bodies that may benefit from this community service.”

Maiavatele Timothy Fesili was the prosecution and lawyer from the Attorney General’s Office while Quentin Sauaga acted for the defendant.