Inoke Loloma receives suspended sentence for manslaughter

Inoke Loloma has been sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, by the High Court after being convicted of manslaughter. Loloma faced a murder charge for allegedly punching a 43-year-old man during a Christmas Eve gathering in 2023 in Lami, Fiji.

“

manslaughter is a serious offence carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

Justice Thushara Rajasinghe stated that manslaughter is a serious offense with a maximum penalty of 25 years. The court's primary sentencing goals were to denounce the crime, deter future offenses, and protect the community. Rajasinghe set a starting point of four years, considering the offense's seriousness and harm caused.

“

the primary purpose of sentencing was to denounce the offending, deter the offender and others from committing similar offences, and protect the community.

However, Loloma's mitigation, including his previous good character, led to a one-year reduction. The final sentence of three years was suspended for 12 months. The judge warned that any new imprisonable offense committed during the suspension period could lead to the activation of the suspended sentence, adding three years to any penalty for the new crime.

“

if Loloma commits another imprisonable offence during the suspension period, the suspended sentence may be activated for another three years in addition to any penalty imposed for the new offence.