Usumaki intends to change plea to not guilty

One of seven prisoners who made a daring escape from the

Naboro Maximum Prison last year asked Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa to change his plea on the day of his sentencing.

Josaia Usumaki has told the court that he now intends to plead not guilty because he believes he can win his case.

Magistrate Boseiwaqa has given the accused 14 days to write the basis for his change of plea.

Usumaki escaped from the Naboro Maximum Prison last December with six other men and were recaptured in Wainadoi.

He was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment, with a non‑parole period of 16 years in 2015.

Usumaki had also escaped from the Naboro Prison in 2012 and was part of the group of men that violently robbed $70,000 from BSP Branch in Samabula armed with cane knifes

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