THE Court has imposed a nine-month jail sentence on a suspended Correctional Service Officer, Gabriel Mataki.

The accused, Mataki, has pleaded guilty to one count of drunk disorderly and one count of assault on a police officer.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Sheppard Lapo, in his sentencing, told the accused that being a Correctional Officer who has been trained and empowered by the law should have demonstrated a high standard of discipline.

“You are a well-trained Correctional Officer that you should understand well about the laws and orders of this country.

“Citizen of this nation have looked up and highly respected on those that serves and enforce the laws and orders in this country,” Magistrate Lapo told the accused.

Magistrate Lapo said the actions and behaviour taken by the accused caused disgrace and had demoralised his reputation as a Correctional Officer.

“This attitude does not reflect well on you as a law enforcer who should correct and respect other officers and members of the Public,” Magistrate Lapo said.

Magistrate Lapo also said the court wants to make it clear that any Law enforcement officer committing any related criminal offences will receive higher fine sentences or custodial sentence.

Therefore after considering all the mitigation and aggravating features of the case Magistrate Lapo imposed the following sentences for count 1, one months imprisonment and count 2 nine months imprisonment, since the offences committed on the same day, the sentences will be served concurrently to count two.

This is in relation to an incident occurred on April 13 last year.

Police alleged that the accused was drunk and was stopping vehicles at the main road at Rove in front of the Rove Police Headquarters.

Police said that though other officers tried to calm him down he refused and as a result a police patrol was called and escorted him to the Central Police Station.

At the station two police officers tried to calm him down instead the accused slap one officer on his right cheek.