A teenager from Levi Saleimoa who claimed that a Member of Parliament threatened him, was ordered to do community service for throwing stones and damaging the politician’s car. 

James Lolesio also known as Kiemi Lolesio of Levi Saleimoa and Lotofaga Aleipata appeared before the Supreme Court this month for sentence. 

He faced four charges including endangering transport, intentional damage, being armed with a dangerous weapon, and throwing stones at the M.P. for Sagaga No.2, Maulolo Tavita Amosa’s car. 

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges that involved an incident on 26 October 2023 at Afega. 

According to the summary of facts, the M.P. drove inland to inspect excavation work on land where people from Levi and Leauvaa reside. 

He came across two individuals observing the work including the defendant who was video recording the work on the land. 

The M.P. stopped and spoke to the defendant before he continued to drive inland and shortly after he left Lolesio picked up stones and threw them at the vehicle causing damage to its right side. 

The damage is estimated at $4700. 

The court heard that the M.P. who is the complainant in the matter shouted at the defendant to stop but he did not.  

He continued inland where he managed to inspect the damage to his vehicle, and a person who was with the defendant earlier told the M.P. who threw the stones.

According to the pre-sentence report, the accused claimed he recorded a video of all that had been damaged on the land that his family had occupied at Levi.  

The victim then approached him with his vehicle and told him to stop.  

He threatened to shoot the defendant if he did not comply. The defendant claimed he felt intimidated and angry. 

This provoked him and he reached for stones and threw them at the vehicle while his cousin fled. 

Supreme Court Jusge Justice Fepuleai Ameperosa Roma said he accepts there was an element of provocation on the part of the victim when he told the defendant to stop. 

“I also consider that he made threatening remarks,” he added. 

 The defendant is 18-years-old and employed as a bus assistant which the court considered during sentencing and noted he was a first-offender. 

Justice Roma accepted that the teenager was provoked by what he claimed the victim had said to him.  “But the consequences and charges could have been much more serious had any person sustained injuries,” he said.

“There are many cases where throwing stones have caused serious injuries and even death to victims.  You are very lucky that the only damage was to the vehicle.”

The prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Office Maiavatele Timothy Fesili recommended a non-custodial sentence of supervision which the court accepted. 

The teenager was convicted of all charges and sentenced to 12 months supervision and ordered to complete 80 hours of community work. 

He is also required to attend an anger management programme as directed by the Probation Service.