British soldiers plead guilty to a fight with an American policeman | Military
Leonard T. Koonce
2 min read
Four British Army soldiers have admitted to being involved in a fight with an off-duty policeman outside a New York bar.
The soldiers were traveling with a military rugby team when the row broke out on August 30.
Criminal complaints say the officer was beaten and his mobile phone seized.
Court records show Ratu-losefo Yavala pleaded guilty on Friday to misdemeanor assault and petty larceny, while Thomas Shute admitted to misdemeanor assault.
Mosese Kurulala and Iliakini Raderua pleaded guilty to violations, which are not crimes under US law.
The four were sentenced to community service and fines.
Shute, who is the only British member of the squad, was given a year’s parole, ordered to do five days of community service and fined $500 (£314) in court New York Criminal Court.
He was also told to pay a fee and surcharge totaling $250 (£157).
The other three, all from Fiji, were sentenced to community service and fined.
All four men serve with the Royal Scots Borderers, an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Two other soldiers from the same battalion were also arrested in connection with the brawl but their charges were dropped.
A spokeswoman for the battalion said: “We have taken note of the court’s findings.
“Those who have been charged with criminal offenses will have that on their record and it will affect their careers.
“Those whose charges have been dropped may still be subject to administrative action at the discretion of their commanding officer.”
The Ministry of Defense warned that those who failed to meet army standards faced disciplinary action and could be fired.
A spokesperson said: ‘Anyone who fails to meet the high standards of the military or who has committed an offense under the Armed Forces Act is dealt with administratively – up to and including release. – or through the disciplinary process, as appropriate.
“We have common law and data protection law to protect the personal information of our employees and, as such, we are not prepared to release any personal information relating to this matter.”
