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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 106 OF 1990
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 RAFAELE LATABUA}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346\charrsid9782346 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 Appellant
\par 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346\charrsid9782346 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9782346 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346 . S. Hettige for the Respondent}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9782346 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9782346 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 The appellant pleaded guilty to an offence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 Fraudulent Conversion}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346  in the Magistrate Court, Nausori and was sentenced to }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 2 years imprisonment}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346  on the 4th of July, 1990.
\par 
\par He was originally charged on the }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 14th of October, 1988}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
 and the case was adjourned thereafter on numerous occasions for various reasons including the absence of {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}the appellant (}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
for which no less than 4 bench warrants were issued}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 ) and on 3 occasions ostensibly to enable the appellant to repay the sum allegedly converted by him.
\par 
\par The appellant now appeals against the sentence on the ground that it is harsh and excessive.
\par 
\par The facts of the case are fairly brief.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
It appears that the appellant was a member of a construction company which had undertaken to construct a church for }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 Malabe Village}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346  and the $3,000 which he fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit was the first instalment he had personally received and receipted.
\par 
\par The learned trial magistrate in sentencing the appellant considered the facts of the case, his record of previous convictions and his unfulfilled promises to repay the}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 money.
\par 
\par At the hearing of the appeal the appellant urged the Court to reduce his sentence or suspend the unserved portion of it.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
He also seeks time to repay the monies.
\par 
\par If I may say so neither of these courses commends itself to this Court.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 As
 was correctly observed by the learned trial magistrate this is not the appellant's first conviction for }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 Fraudulent Conversion}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346  or dishonesty nor would it be the first occasion for him to receive a suspended prison sentence should his present sentence be suspended.
\par 
\par Indeed the appellant's record reveals that he was charged for this present offence only 4 months after he received a suspended sentence for an identical offence committed prior to the present offence.
\par 
\par Then the appellant raises the plight of his family.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
Whilst the Court can sympathise with the appellant's family who are innocent victims of the appellant's dishonesty that is an unavoidable (}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346 albeit undesir}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 able}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 ) consequence for any family that loses its sole breadwinner.
\par 
\par As for repaying the sum converted, more than enough time has been given the appellant within which he co}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346 uld have made a start if he tru}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 ly wanted.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9782346  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 
The fact that nothing has been repaid speaks volumes louder than all the appellant's hollow promises to pay.
\par 
\par The sentence is neither harsh nor excessive and the appellant's appeal against it is accordingly dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9782346 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 JUDGE
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\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12198476\charrsid9782346 At Suva,
\par 22nd February, 1991.
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\par }}