Jone Vakarisi sentenced to 24 months and gets early release

Nabua resident, Jone Vakarisi has been sentenced to 24 months after he was convicted for two counts of criminal intimidation.

While sentencing Vakarisi, Magistrate Liyanage Wickaramasekara says taking into account the 1 year 10 months he was in remand, Vakarisi was left with 2 months to serve which has been suspended for 3 years.

Vakarisi was convicted for 2 counts of criminal intimidation and acquitted for 15 other counts of resisting arrest, damaging property and going equipped for property offence.

Magistrate Wickaramasekara adds the aggravating factors includes Vakarisi threatening to kill police officers while they were on patrol.

He says the mitigating factors are that Vakarisi was the sole breadwinner for a family of four.

Vakarisi threatened to kill police officers who were on patrol and sped off from the scene when approached by the police officers.

He was then chased by the police to Mead Road Housing where the police vehicle was blocked by the vehicle.

Vakarisi has another pending criminal intimidation case before Magistrate Wickaramasekara where he was released with strict bail conditions.

8 other people who were charged with the same offences, have been acquitted.

There was heavy police presence in court today when Vakarisi’s case was called and the court area was cordoned off.