Neighbours shone their torches on a man alleged to have tried to steal a mobile phone in Tacirua, Suva, on Tuesday

He panicked because of the glare of the lights shone towards him, that he fell into a creek.

Neighbours of the phone owner caught up with the suspect and handed him over to the Police. He was rushed to CWM Hospital in Suva where he was admitted on Tuesday night. He was still there last night.

Tomasi Nasuikau, 57 and his son Keasi Raqona, 29, recalled someone shouting for help.

A  21-year-old student was allegedly being beaten up by a man trying to steal his mobile phone, they said.

Mr Nasuikau said it was about 7pm when they heard someone screaming ‘choro choro’, ‘butako’ and they came out to see what was happening.

“I looked through the window and saw the culprit trying to grab that school boy’s phone and in the process he punched that school boy twice and started running away when he couldn’t get the phone.

“He ran towards the river that’s down here and my son called out ‘oi who’s this’ then the culprit ran back towards Sakoca side.

“We saw the culprit’s face but he seemed to be a new face because we haven’t seen him around here.

“While the culprit was running back all the neighbours from both sides of the river at Sakoca and Khalsa shone their torches towards him and there was a slope that side and he dived into the creek.”

Mr Raqona and five other men found the culprit faced down in the creek barely breathing and they took him to the main road while Mr Nasuikau called the Police.

Police have confirmed that the suspect is believed to be in his 20s.

Edited by Maraia Vula

Feedback: jessica.gounder@fijisun.com.fj