Two people sentenced for Westpac fire

Two people who set the Westpac Bank on fire causing more than $1 million damage in Labasa two years ago will spend at least four years in jail.

33-year-old Ravinesh Deo and 22-year-old Ashneel Kamal were found guilty of one count of arson after a week long trial before Labasa High Court Judge Justice Janaka Bandara.

During the trial it was revealed that the two climbed that roof top of the Westpac bank and cut the roofing sheets and then set fire to the bank.

In his caution interview Deo had mentioned that he was in need of money and thought of robbing the bank while Kamal had said that he accompanied Deo to do the dangerous job to get $1000 in return.

Justice Bandara said that had the fire spread out of the bank premises, it would have been a huge devastation in Labasa town as a lot of business outlets are connected to each other in the main street.

The High court Judge has sentenced Deo to four years 10 months imprisonment while Kamal has been sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The two will have to serve four years behind bars before being eligible for parole.

 
Story by: Praneeta Prakash