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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 7 OF 1990
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 SIMELI SOKOSAYA}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15554959\charrsid15554959 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 Appellant
\par 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15554959\charrsid15554959 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15554959 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. S. Hettige for the Respondent
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15554959 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15554959 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 The appellant was convicted by the Suva Magistrate Court on the 7th of June 1989 after he pleaded guilty to }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 76}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959  offences laid against him by the police in }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 5}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
 separate investigation dockets.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 The relevant Magistrate court files are numbered}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151 :
}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 2458/88; 2459/88; 2544/88; 88/89}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  and }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Nausori Criminal file No. 845/88}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 .
\par 
\par For the purposes of this appeal however this court is only aware of the 25 charges laid in Suva Cr. File No. 2544/88.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
The remaining files not having been produced.
\par 
\par {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}Nevertheless all the files were dealt with together by the learned Chief Mag
istrate and the relevant sentences imposed in respect of all the 76 offences are clearly and comprehensively set out in a 3 page order enclosed in the appeal record.
\par 
\par The learned Chief Magistrate in sentencing the appellant clearly recognised that all the offences were committed during a 3 month }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151 '}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
crime spree'}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  when the appellant was at large as a prison escapee.
\par 
\par The various sentences imposed on the appellant not only reflected the seriousness of the offences they also generally followed well-laid down sentencing principles applicable to }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
concurrent}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  as well as }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 consecutive}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  sentences.

\par 
\par To take but one illustration, the 60 }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 "driving offences"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
 charged were of 3 different types and in respect of each type a consecutive sentence of imprisonment was imposed but for each identical offence of the same type a concurrent sentence was imposed.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Similarly with the }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Larceny}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  and }{
\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Breaking Offences}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 .
\par 
\par The appellant appeals against the total sentence imposed on the ground that it is harsh and excessive and urges this court to make it concurrent with the 8 year sentence he was serving when he escaped.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }
{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 He however frankly admitted that such a course would have the undesirable effect of not penalising at all the 76 offences he committed whilst at large.
\par 
\par This cannot be just or fair to those prisoners who faithfully and diligently serve their sentences without escaping or re-offending.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
Indeed this court would go further and say that to adopt the course urged by the appellant would make a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151 '}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 mockery of the law'}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  and provide a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 "charter"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  for pri
son-escapees to commit offences whilst unlawfully at large.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 That would be intolerable.
\par 
\par Everyone including prisoners must understand that if they break the law they will be punished.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
This is a lesson that must especially be learnt by }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 recidivists}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  and persis
tent offenders such as the appellant who must be made to understand that their future destiny lies within their hands to control.
\par 
\par Having said that however this court cannot fail to notice that the 5 }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Breaking}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 
 offences in which a total of almost $3,000 worth of goods were stolen, accounted for 4 of the total 6 1/2 years imprisonment imposed.
\par 
\par That sentence is not only disproportionate to the amount involved and the total sentence as a composite reflection of the appellant's criminal activities during the 3 m
onth period but moreso to the 6 Larceny offences and an offence of Breaking with Intent for which the appellant only received a total effective sentence of 6 months imprisonment.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3081151  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Furthermore they have somewhat inconsistently been made consecutive.
\par 
\par Accordingly the sentences for the 3 counts of }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 School Breaking, Entering and Larceny}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  and for the 2 counts of }{
\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151 Housing Breaking, Entering and Larceny}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid3081151  are hereby ordered to be served concurrently.
\par 
\par The effect of the above order is that the appellant's aggregate sentence for these 5 criminal case files is reduced by 2 years to 4 1/2 years imprisonment to be served consecutive to the sentence that the appellant was serving on the 7th of June 1989.

\par 
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\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 JUDGE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5061450\charrsid15554959 
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\par At Suva,
\par 11th January, 1991.
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\par }}