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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 017 OF 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424\charrsid13571424 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Respondent}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424\charrsid13571424 
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\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  May 2002
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Appellant in Person
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\par 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 The Appellant appeals against a sentence of three years imprisonment imposed on him by the Suva Magistrates}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
{\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  Court on 21}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 st}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  January 2002, for the following offence:
\par 
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 FIRST COUNT
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13571424 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Statement of Offence
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ction 293(1)(b) of the Penal Code, Act 17.
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day of October 2001 at Suva in the Central Division robbed Park Guinam cash US$10,000.00, F$1,000.00 and assorted jewellery valued at $20,000.00 and immediately before such robbery threatened to use personal violence on the said Park Guinam.
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\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 SECOND COUNT}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  (alternative)}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
\par 
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Contrary to Section 313(1) of the Penal Code, Act 17.
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\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid13571424 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 ASESELA TAWAKE and TIMALETI UTOVOU between 22}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 nd}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  day of October 2001 and 24}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  day of October 2001 at Suva in the Central Division, received one seiko wrist watch valued at $200.00, one gold medal valued at $400.00, one gold button valued at $200.00, one g
old chain valued at $50.00, three purses valued at $7.00, US$2,200.00 and F$87.94, the property of Park Guinam, knowing the same to have been stolen.
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\par The same sentence was imposed on the second accused, who is the wife of the Appellant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Her appeal against sentence was dismissed on 15}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  March 2002.
\par 
\par The Appellant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
s appeal was originally against sentence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
However in his written submissions at the hearing of the appeal, he also submitted that he had not understood the significance of his plea of guilty.
\par 
\par The State opposes this appeal, saying that the plea was clearly unequivocal and that the sentence was not harsh or excessive.
\par 
\par The Appellant did not plead guilty when the case was first called on 26}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  October 2001.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Indeed on the 29}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  of October he was represented by counsel and he pleaded not guilty.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
Counsel applied for bail (which was refused) and the case was called on several occasions before the Appellant pleaded guilty on 7}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  January 2002, on Count 2 which was alternative to the first count of Robbery with Violence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 On that date he was unrepresented.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 The facts were outlined.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 The prosecution said that the Appellant and his wife were both arrested on 24}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  October 2001 with the stolen items in their possession.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 On interview the Appellant said he had received them from another person but could not or would not disclose the name of that person to the police.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 He admitted the facts and admitted two previous convictions.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 He was then sentenced to three years imprisonment.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
Discount had been given for the plea of guilty.
\par 
\par Although the Appellant was unrepresented when he pleaded guilty, the charge was clearly explained to him, and he chose to plead guilty to the alternative count.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 There is nothing in the record to indicate that the plea was a nullity.
\par 
\par Further the sentence was neither harsh nor excessive.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
The learned Magistrate took all relevant matters into account and gave the same sentence to the Appellant and to his wife.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
In particular he referred to the need to pass deterrent sentences in respect of receivers of stolen property, saying that robberies were fuelled by the availability of receivers of stolen property.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 I agree entirely with his remark.
\par 
\par This appeal is wholly dismissed.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13571424 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13571424 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 
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\par At Suva
\par 13}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8221562\charrsid13571424  May 2002
\par }}