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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT LABASA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS. }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 HAA00}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 14 and 15 OF 2002
\par (Labasa Mag. Ct. Crim. Case Nos. 882 and 881 of 2001)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 UDIT NARAYAN
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 s/o Ram Dass
\par Appellant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 STATE
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Respondent}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Appellant in Person
\par Mr. J. Rabuku for the State}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248\charrsid12396248 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par The appeals are against sentence on the ground that they are harsh and excessive.
\par 
\par In }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Criminal Case No. 881 of 2001 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
on 17 December 2001 on his own plea the accused was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment as follows.
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 1}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 st}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248  Count}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  - }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 9 months imprisonment for larceny
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 2}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 nd}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248  Count }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 - }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 6 months concurrent to Count 1 for
\par }\pard \ql \li2160\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin2160\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 escaping from lawful custody
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 3}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 rd}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248  Count}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  -}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248  6 months concurrent to Count 2 for resisting arrest.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par These sentences (totalling 9 months concurrent) were made consecutive to sentence in Criminal Case No. 882/01.
\par 
\par In }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Criminal Case 882/01}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
 on the same day (17.12.01) the appellant was on his own plea sentenced to imprisonment for 9 months.
\par 
\par The total sentence to be served is 18 months.
\par 
\par On appeal the appellant submitted to Court that he wants a reduction in his sentence as it is high; he has wife, mother and three children to look after.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 He said that he is 37 years old, has very little education and comes }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 from the rural area of Dreketi.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par 
\par The learned counsel for the State opposed the appeal stating that the appellant stole valuable and expensive items.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
In Criminal Case No. 882/01 he stole an outboard engine valued at $2000.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 He gave it to his cousin to keep.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Although the item was finally recovered the offence is serious.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 He said that the sentence of 9 months was lenient.
\par 
\par In the other case, he said that although the value of goats stolen was $285.00,}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 this offence was committed in an agricultural area.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 The keeping of goats is a source of livelihood for the complainants.
\par 
\par Furthermore}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 ,}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248  looking at his previous convictions he does not appear to have learned his lesson although he managed to keep out of prison.

\par 
\par Having heard both the appellant and Mr. Rabuku I find that there is no merit whatsoever in the appeals.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 If anything, the total s
entence is on the low side.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
Looking at his previous convictions and the sentences passed on him, he managed to evade the taste of prison life.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
He has been properly sentenced to the said term of imprisonment.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 The farming community has to be protected from such offenders.
\par 
\par The sentences are neither harsh nor excessive or wrong in principle.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 The appeals are therefore dismissed.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12396248 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 D. Pathik
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 Judge}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12396248 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 At Labasa
\par 26 August 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15170489\charrsid12396248 
\par }}