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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid10038922 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  August 2002
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\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Appellant in Person
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The Appellant appeals against a sentence of 2 years imprisonment imposed on him by the Lautoka Magistrate}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 {\field{\*\fldinst 
SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 s Court on 21}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 st}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  February 2002, for the following offence:
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8722193 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Statement of Offence
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Contrary to section 293 of the Penal Code, Cap. 17.
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\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid8722193 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 TEVITA BEKA and VILIAME TAVUTU, on the 18}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
th}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  day of February, 2002 at Vuda, Lautoka in the Western Division, robbed ONO MATSUO of $20,000.00 cash and before such robbery did threaten to use persona
l violence on the said ONO MATSUO.
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\par His grounds of appeal may be summarised thus:
\par 
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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 His accomplice had blamed him for the offence;
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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 He was a former patient of the St. Giles Mental Hospital and did not understand the proceedings in the absence of counsel;
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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 There was disparity between his sentence and the sentence of his accomplice;
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\par {\listtext\pard\plain\s16 \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 4.\tab}}\pard\plain \s16\ql \fi-709\li1418\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\ls1\outlinelevel0\rin0\lin1418\itap0\pararsid8722193 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The sentence was harsh and excessive.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 64 \\f 
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\par In the Magistrate}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 s Court on the 21}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 st}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  of February, the Appellant and his co}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 -}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 accused were both unrepresented.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Before pleas were taken, they 
were asked if they wanted counsel to represent them.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 They said they did not.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The Appellant further said that he knew court procedure.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
The charge was then read and explained.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 They said they understood.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 They both pleaded guilty.
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\par The facts were that the Appellant and his co}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 -}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 accused were both from Veiseisei Village.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 On the 18}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
 of February, they went to the Mediterranean Hotel, to a villa occupied by a Japanese visitor to Fiji.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The accomplice had a kitchen knife.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 They climbed over the fence and entered the house through the screens.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 They threatened the complainant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The Appellant held an iron rod.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 He was the principal offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The complainant gave them $20,000 in Australian currency.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
The Appellant and his accomplice took the money and fled.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 A boat engine was bo
ught with the proceeds of the robbery, although it is not clear from the facts who actually bought it.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par The Appellant admitted the facts.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 He had three previous convictions, one of which was for robbery with violence.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The accomplice was a first offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 In mitigation the Appellant expressed remorse, said he was 33 years old and single.
\par 
\par The learned Magistrate then sentenced the Appellant and his co}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 -}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 accused to two years imprisonment each.
\par 
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Appeal Against Conviction}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par 
\par I consider that there is no merit in the appeal against conviction.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The record shows that the Appellant was explained his right to counsel.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 He waived that right.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
He said he understood the courts procedures.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The record shows no suggestion that he did not understand.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Further the interview statement 
tendered by the prosecution contains a full confession of the robbery, and a rational account of the events of that day.
\par 
\par There is nothing to suggest that the plea was not unequivocal, or that the Magistrate should have called for a psychiatric examination.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
The appeal against conviction is dismissed.
\par 
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Appeal Against Sentence}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par 
\par Although the Appellant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment, his committal warrant, dated 21}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 st}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
 March erroneously reads 2}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 50 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  years.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The Appellant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on the 21}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 st}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  of February and the prison records must be adjusted accordingly.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par The sentence is well below the tariff for robbery with violence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Weapons were used, and the value of the money stolen was high.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Other than the plea of guilty, there were no other mitigating circumstances.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Clearly, the sentence is not excessive.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
Further, although the prosecution said the Appellant was the principal offender, he denied this in his interview record.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
The learned Magistrate sentenced on the basis that each accused was equally culpable.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
He was right to do so, given the contents of the interviews.
\par 
\par In the circumstances the sentence is not manifestly excessive.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 The appeal against sentence is dismissed.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8722193 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8722193 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 
\par At Suva
\par 27}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5865209\charrsid8722193  August 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8722193 
\par }}