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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 6 OF 1991
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 SAILOSI RAKABU}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16335191\charrsid16335191 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 Appellant
\par 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16335191\charrsid16335191 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16335191 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. S. Hettige for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16335191 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16335191 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 The appellant pleaded not guilty to an offence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 Robbery with Violence}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
After a short trial in which the prosecution called the complainant and tendered the interview and charge statements of the appellant, he elected and made an unsworn statement from the dock questioning the voluntariness of 
his statements and denying the offence.
\par 
\par The learned trial magistrate delivered a short judgment in which he dealt fully with the complainant's evidence and dismissed the appellant's unsworn denials.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 In particular the learned trial magistrate recognised that the case was one which turned principally on the question {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}
of the identity of the assailant and he unhesitatingly concluded that it was the appellant.
\par 
\par Such a finding of fact based as it was on an assessment of the credibility of the complainant's evidence can only now be challenged on appeal if it can be shown to have been unsupported by the evidence.
\par 
\par In this regard the appellant complains that no identification parade was held in the case.
\par 
\par However the learned trial magistrate fully dealt with the circ
umstances in which the complainant recognised and later identified the appellant by reference to the candle light present in the small room in which they were drinking and the period of 2 hours during which time the complainant would undoubtedly have had 
ample opportunity to acquire some familiarity with the appellant's appearance.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025  This ground of appeal fails.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par 
\par Reference was also made to the clear admissions recorded in the appellant's statements as being corroborative of the complainant's evidence and his identification of the appellant as the assailant.
\par 
\par Also in respect of these the appellant challenged the voluntariness of his statements in his unsworn statement in court.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
That contrasts vividly with the complete absence of any cross-examination of the two police officers concerned.
\par 
\par It is also significant that both}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 statements were recorded on the }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 10th of November 1989}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
 some 2 months after the incident is alleged to have occurred; both are in a language readily understood by the appellant and both bear his signatures in various places.
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 In those circumstances the learned trial magistrate was perfectly entitled to find }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
"......... that (the appellant's) unsworn statement from the dock that he did not give the statements willingly is without foundation"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 .}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025\charrsid16534025 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 This ground of complainant is also dismissed.
\par 
\par Then the appellant purports to rely on the evidence of 2 female witnesses who were called by the prosecution at his trial and who both failed to identify him despite allegedly having given his name to the police in their statements.
\par 
\par In respect of both witnesses the prosecution sought to declare them }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 "hostile"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
 and succeeded against one but failed in respect of the other.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025\charrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
The learned trial magistrate nevertheless rejected both witnesses evidence as }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 "unworthy of credit"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
 as he was quite entitled to do and nothing has been placed before this Court to suggest that that was not a proper assessment of the witnesses testimony which substan}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025 t}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 ially supported the complainant's evidence in all material respects }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 except}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025  for the identity of the assailant.
\par 
\par It is also significant that both women gave their statements to the police on the very next day after the incident occurred when events would have been freshest in their minds and at a time when their }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 "loyalties"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025  towards their }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 Vanuatu}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025  hosts were unquestionable.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025\charrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
This ground of appeal also fails and is dismissed.
\par 
\par All grounds of appeal having thus being dismissed as being without merit the appellant's conviction is accordingly upheld.
\par 
\par As for sentence the learned trial magistrate imposed 18 months imprisonment.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025\charrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
This cannot be considered harsh or excessive for a robbery of an innocent albeit naive visitor to our country who had been threatened with a broken beer bottle and had his $70 camera stolen in the process.
\par 
\par Needless to say learned State Counsel correctly points out that the appellant has several previous convictions for similar offences in his recent past and for which he received the relative leniency of concurrent suspended sentences.
\par 
\par This most recent offence under appeal was committed during the operational period of the suspended sentences}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025\charrsid16534025  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16534025 
and a consecutive sentence cannot be considered unprincipled.
\par 
\par The appeal against sentence is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16534025 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16335191 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 At Suva,
\par 14th February, 1991}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid16534025 .}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4138587\charrsid16335191 
\par }}