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\f38\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 61 OF 1989
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 SANAILA NABUKALEVU
\par EMORI NAISAKE
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328 Appellants
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. S. Seneratne for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par The appellants were convicted by the Suva Magistrate Court on the 27th of June 1989 for an offence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 House Breaking, Entering and Larceny}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328  and each sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
\par 
\par The brief facts outlined by the prosecutor was as follows:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 "Between 6-8 May 1989 complainant locked his house and went to Rewa leaving house in care of his brother.}{
\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328  }{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 On 8.5.89 at 10.00 a.m. his brother informed complainant his house was broken into.}{
\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328  }{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 Entry by removing louvre blade}{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328 s. Items as in charge missing.}{
\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 "}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}The items that were stolen was a radio cassette and a wall clock with a total value of $135.00.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 One of the items has been recovered and has been returned to the complainant.
\par 
\par The appellants appeal against the sentence urging their youth in support and blaming their association with bad company as the cause of their offending.
\par 
\par It must be said at once that "following others" is not an excuse for committing crimes nor is }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
peer-group' pressure a mitigating factor albeit that it is often greatest in the case of young people.
\par 
\par The first appellant was born on the 15th of January 1971 and is barely 19 years of age.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
He is a first offender and has already served almost 8 months of his sentence.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
The appellant's elder brother appeared at the hearing of the appeal and was permitted to speak in support of his appeal.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 He undertook to care for the appellant if he was released from prison.
\par 
\par This court will not let that plea go unanswered.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
The sentence of the first appellant is accordingly reduced so as to permit his immediate release upon his entering into a 12 month good behaviour bond in the sum of $100 with his elder brother Ravuama Matanagaga as surety in a like sum.
\par 
\par The second appellant is also a young offender but unlike the first appellant he is not a first offender.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
Indeed he has 3 previous convictions of which 2 are for offences similar to the present offence under appeal.
\par 
\par It is noteworthy that for these 2 prior convictions the 2nd appellant was sentenced to a total of 4 months imprisonment in November 1986.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 To his credit he has succeeded in staying 
out of trouble for 3 years since his last conviction and as State Counsel correctly points out it might be that the trial magistrate could have imposed a suspended prison sentence for this most recent conviction.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 He did not and cannot be faulted.
\par 
\par The 2nd appellant promises not to reoffend if he is released and asks to be allowed to return to his farm and parents.
\par 
\par I am aware that this is the 2nd appellant's second occasion in prison and am willing to give him another chance in the hope that he will reform himself and stay out of trouble.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328\charrsid8611328  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 He too has already served 8 months in prison which is twice the length of his previous sentence.
\par 
\par Accordingly I order the second appellant's release upon he and his father (as surety) entering into a 2 year good behaviour bond in the sum of $100.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 JUDGE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par At Suva,
\par 16th February, 1990.
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8611328 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8611328 HAA0061J.89S}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4853244\charrsid8611328 
\par }}