The Supreme Court of Vanuatu has sentenced Gregory Rouard to 7 years, 5 months and 8 days’ imprisonment for his role as the main organiser and architect of an airport cash robbery and the earlier theft of a vehicle used in the plan.
Eight other men were also sentenced for their respective roles in the robbery, the theft of the vehicle and the handling of stolen money.
Chief Justice (CJ) Vincent Lunabek delivered the sentences on 7 August 2026 in Public Prosecutor v Gregory Rouard and others, Criminal Case No. 26/448 SC/CRML.
The case involved two connected offences — the theft of a Kia Bongo vehicle in June 2025 and the robbery of a vehicle carrying foreign currency at the airport on 29 December 2025.
The court described the airport robbery as a serious offence because firearms were used and the offenders targeted a security vehicle carrying a large amount of money.
The court found that Rouard was the main offender and the architect behind both the vehicle theft and the later airport robbery.
On 18 June 2025, Rouard enlisted Joshua Namuli and Johnny Tom Iwai to steal a white Kia Bongo, registration number 17611, from the home of Fabrice Mauno.
The three men waited outside the property until Mauno went to bed. They then entered the property, pushed the vehicle onto the main road and drove away.
The vehicle was initially used for what the court described as a “joy ride”. The men later spent several days modifying it before hiding it at the home of Anthony Misak.
The court found that Misak knew the vehicle had been stolen.
The men painted over the company logo, heavily tinted the windows and removed the spare wheel in an attempt to disguise the vehicle.
Misak later became frightened and abandoned the vehicle at Tassiriki, where it was eventually found by its owner.
After the Kia Bongo could no longer be used, Rouard obtained another vehicle for the planned robbery.
The second vehicle was a minivan owned by the family of Willie Matua and registered in his wife’s name.
On 28 December 2025, Rouard, Matua and Yoan Obed took the minivan into the bush at Eton, where they tinted its windows.
In the early hours of 29 December, Rouard picked up Rex Steven.
The men changed the vehicle’s registration plate and attached another plate bearing the number 577.
Rouard, Steven and Obed later went to RecycleCorp, while Victor Tabisap and Matua positioned themselves near the Grand Hotel.
Their role was to monitor the Western Union/Goodies cash vehicle and report its movements to Rouard.
On 29 December, Western Union/Goodies Finance Officer Britin Lui was transporting foreign currency to the airport. He was accompanied by Operations Manager Tarimure.
The money was contained in two suitcases.
One suitcase contained AUD600,000, while the second contained AUD400,000, making a total of AUD1 million.
At the airport cargo area, Lui was preparing to park when he saw a white minivan reversing near his vehicle.
Two masked men then approached.
The court heard that one man was short, while the other was tall and carrying what appeared to be a rifle.
The shorter man pointed at Lui and assaulted him. Lui ran towards the police post and called for assistance.
One of the masked men opened the rear door of the cash vehicle and removed one of the smaller suitcases.
The armed man pointed the firearm at Tarimure and warned her not to interfere.
Tarimure raised her hands and froze in fear.
The masked men then escaped in the white minivan.
An export officer at the cargo terminal saw three masked men dressed in black enter the tinted vehicle.
Rouard initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of theft and robbery.
He later changed his pleas to guilty on 9 June 2026, after an eight-day trial had already been scheduled.
The court imposed a starting point of 12 years’ imprisonment for his offending.
Because Rouard did not plead guilty at the first opportunity, he did not receive the full one-third reduction normally available for an early guilty plea.
Instead, the court allowed a 30 per cent discount, equivalent to 43 months, for his guilty pleas.
The court also reduced his sentence by a further six months for other mitigating factors.
After taking into account time already spent in custody, Rouard’s final sentence was 7 years, 5 months and 8 days’ imprisonment.
The sentence was not suspended, and Rouard must serve it immediately.
The court noted that Rouard was a first-time offender, had shown remorse and had family and community support.
However, CJ Lunabek rejected Rouard’s explanation that frustration over poor currency exchange rates had contributed to his offending.
The remaining eight defendants received sentences based on their individual involvement in the offences.
Rex Steven, 30, who took part directly in the airport robbery and helped remove the cash, was sentenced to 5 years and 14 days’ imprisonment.
Yoan Obed, 24, who participated directly in the robbery and assaulted Lui, was also sentenced to 5 years and 14 days’ imprisonment.
Victor Tabisap, 28, who helped monitor the cash vehicle and report its movements, was sentenced to 3 years, 4 months and 10 days’ imprisonment.
Willie Matua, 32, who helped monitor and follow the cash vehicle, was sentenced to 3 years, 4 months and 16 days’ imprisonment.
Johnny Tom Iwai, 27, who helped steal the Kia Bongo, was sentenced to 1 year, 4 months and 10 days’ imprisonment.
Joshua Namuli, 17, who took part in stealing the Kia Bongo, was sentenced to 1 year, 1 month and 20 days’ imprisonment, with part of the sentence suspended.
Anthony Misak, 29, who kept the stolen Kia Bongo at his property, was sentenced to 4 months and 10 days’ imprisonment, fully suspended.
Gael Remy Yorley, 30, who received and hid stolen Australian currency, was sentenced to 18 days’ imprisonment, suspended.
Age and circumstances considered
The court took into account that Namuli was only 16 years old when he committed the vehicle theft.
His age, immaturity, guilty plea and remorse were considered in determining his sentence.
He must serve 10 months immediately, while the remaining 3 months and 20 days are suspended for two years.
Iwai must also serve 10 months immediately, with the balance of his sentence suspended for two years.
Misak’s entire four-month-and-10-day sentence was suspended for two years, and he was ordered to complete 50 hours of community work.
Yorley’s 18-day sentence was suspended for two years, and he was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community work.
Steven, Obed, Tabisap and Matua were ordered to serve their sentences immediately.
Court stresses seriousness of robbery
The Supreme Court stressed the seriousness of the airport robbery.
The court noted that robbery under section 137 of the Penal Code Act carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
CJ Lunabek said the use of firearms and the targeting of a business vehicle carrying money made the offending more serious than earlier robbery cases considered by the prosecution.
The court also observed that businesses transporting money may not have advanced security systems and therefore rely heavily on the deterrent effect of imprisonment to protect those involved in transporting cash.
The sentences reflect the different levels of involvement of the nine defendants, with the court taking into account their individual roles, guilty pleas, ages, remorse and other mitigating circumstances.
All nine defendants have 14 days to appeal their sentences if they are dissatisfied with the outcome.
