A matter involving the stealing of lemons has been adjourned again.

Paulo Tekotia Enoka Teio appeared before Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro in the Criminal Court in Avarua on Thursday.

He had previously pleaded guilty to theft of lemons.

Defence counsel Mark Short explained to the Court that the defendant took some lemons from the prison garden, and attempted to sell them.

The defendant had been granted permission to take the lemons, but not to sell them, Short told the court.

He said the defendant acknowledged his wrongdoing, and had promised to repay the original owner of the lemons.

At Short’s request, JP Taoro adjourned the matter to June 1 to allow for the repayment to happen.

“Hopefully this would sort out the matter. This is a silly situation,” Short said.

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A lawyer unsuccessfully asked the court for her drink driving client to receive a concurrent sentence.

Ngatokorua Soko William appeared in the Criminal Court on charges of driving while disqualified and excess breath alcohol on Thursday last week.

His lawyer Lavi Rokoika said he would enter guilty pleas to both charges.

Police said he entered a guilty plea to excess breath alcohol on November 17, 2022 and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

On April 29 he was stopped in a car by police and breathalysed which returned a result of 500 micrograms per litre of breath.

Police recommended his disqualification continue for another 12 months after November 2023.

Rokoika, in mitigation, said her client had entered an early guilty plea, was remorseful, and had apologised.

She said it would be unreasonable to have his disqualification extended and believed it should be concurrent. 

Justice of the Peace Nadine Newnham said she would take a short adjournment to consider the matter.

When Justice Newnham returned, she convicted William and fined him $200 for driving while disqualified, then told him a 12-month disqualification would be imposed after his current disqualification expired.

He was convicted and fined $67, plus $50 court costs for excess breath alcohol.

JP Newnham said his 12-month disqualification would start after he had finished serving the current disqualification. 

AW/ML