I could imagine them crying at home – Toribau

I stared at the wall for almost three hours after my parents left, I could imagine them crying at home.

Those were the words of Aisea Toribau, who recently graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Management.

Toribau committed a crime in his early 20s while working at a bank.

He was charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception and served a two-year prison sentence.

Speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Toribau opened up about the emotional weight of incarceration and the pain of seeing his parents suffer.

He says the first day in prison was overwhelming where everything seemed new, and he tried hard to tell himself it was the same kind of adaptability he had gone through when changing schools.

Toribau says he was initially held at Samabula Police Station before being transferred to Korovou Corrections, and that the support from his parents at the time helped him get through.

INSERT: Toribau on visit 17th Jan

Toribau says after the visit he returned to the dorm and stared at the wall for almost three hours.

He says it was difficult to watch his parents leave after visiting him, and he could imagine them crying once they got home.

He adds that he told his parents they didn’t need to worry about him.

Toribau says he always prayed that his parents would find comfort during the two years he was in prison.

He says he knows his sentence placed an even greater burden on his parents, and he is thankful to his family for being there to support them during this difficult time.

He adds that despite the challenges, he found strength through reflection, faith, and the support of fellow inmates and prison staff.