Two men who robbed a family in the early hours of the morning in 2010 have been handed custodial sentence by the Suva High Court.

Valame Turaganikeli has been sentenced to 10 years and four months with a non- parole period of nine years while Nacanieli Vukileca who failed to attend the trial was sentenced to 14-years in absentia.

Vukileca’s sentence will come into effect the day he is arrested by police.

The court heard that the two with few other people robbed an elderly man and his family of more than one thousand dollars in November 2010.

The family was asleep when at about 3am Turaganikeli and Vukileca entered the victim’s home in Waila Feeder road Nausori and woke up the family and demanded money.

Turaganikeli and Vukileca were armed with pinch bars and cane knives.

They also assaulted the victims who received serious injuries as well.

Judge Justice Salesi Temo said that the offence was carried out after a careful pre-planning and they robbed the complainant because he was a businessman.

The Judge also said that the accused’s showed no regard to the victim’s right to safety their right as human beings.