A man in his 20s has been given time to seek legal advice after he was arrested and remanded in custody for burglary charges.

Lucas Kamana, who is well-known to the police, appeared on three burglary charges at the Criminal Court in Avarua on Thursday last week.

It is alleged that on June 21 this year, Kamana broke into and entered three different homes in Tupapa with an intention to commit a crime.

On the morning of June 22, police alerted the public on their social media page that through their swift work, they apprehended an offender after a string of break-ins were reported in Kiikii, overnight.

Police had said the first of three complaints came in at 11.23pm when a bag containing cash was stolen from a house.

Further calls came in at 12.10am and 1.21am, reporting break-ins.

Police had said a 23-year-old male, who is “known to Police”, was caught during a search of the area. He was arrested and remanded into custody.

It was earlier reported that in April last year, Kamana was released from custody into the hands of Minister of Corrective Services George “Maggie” Angene after probation had specific concerns about his mental wellbeing.

Probation did not object to his release.

At that time, he was facing an unlawfully found charge on top of breaching a community service order charge.

Kamana was told to reside with Angene and not to be out between 7pm and 7am.

On May 25, 2022, Kamana was sentenced for charges of burglary, theft and contempt. He reappeared in court five months later and was sentenced to serve the remainder of his 12-month probation term through community service.

The court heard he had been having issues with accommodation, was unemployed and had been let go from his job due to dishonesty matters.

At the courtroom last week, Kamana told Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning that he was trying to seek counsel.

JP Kenning said the prosecution would provide him with lawyers’ contact information and ordered that he be given the opportunity to contact a lawyer.

The matter has been adjourned to July 25.