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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO: HAA0052 OF 2002L}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059\charrsid1711059 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 FREDDY NAULUVULA
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Appellant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 THE STATE
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Respondent}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059\charrsid1711059 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 Hearing: }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 23rd August 2002
\par Judgment:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 28th August 2002
\par 
\par Counsel:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Appellant in Person
\par Mr. V. Vosarogo for State}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059\charrsid1711059 JUDGMENT}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059\charrsid1711059 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 The Appellant pleaded guilty to the following charge in the Sigatoka Magistrate}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f 
"WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 s Court on 25}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 th}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059  April 2002:
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Statement of Offence
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 FOUND IN POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
: Contrary to section 8(b) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, Cap. 114 and section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Act as amended by Decree No. 4 of the Fiji Republic Gazette No. 10 of 1990 and section 2 of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Amended) Decree No. 1 of 1991.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Particulars of Offence}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 FREDDY NAULUVULA, on the 18}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 th}{
\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059  day of July 2000 at Nacocolevu, Sigatoka in the Western Division, was found in possession of 640.1 gms of Indian Hemp.}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par The facts were that on the 18}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
 of July 2000, the police received information that a vehicle CM 402 had left Keiyasi and was heading towards Sigatoka, carrying marijuana.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
They stopped the vehicle at Nacocolevu.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
The Appellant was sitting in the front passenger seat with a black carry bag containing 640.1 grams of marijuana.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
The Appellant was interviewed by the police and he admitted carrying the marijuana in the bag.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
He said he knew there was marijuana in it, and that his object had been to deliver the drugs to a drug dealer friend of his.
\par 
\par The facts were admitted.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 The Appellant tried to obtain legal aid, but his request was refused.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 He then asked for a time to find a lawyer.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 The case was adjourned for a week to allow him to find one.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 On 9}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059  May 2002, he told the Magistrate that he could not find a lawyer.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 She then proceeded to hear mitigation.
\par 
\par In mitigation the Appellant said that he had not offended in the last two years and had joined a Christian ministry.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
He said he had a wife and child.
\par 
\par The learned Magistrate then imposed the minimum possible sentence for more than 500 grams of Indian hemp, that of 5 years imprisonment.
\par 
\par The Appellant now appeals against that sentence on the ground that the mandatory sentence offended the principle of the independence of the judiciary, and was a grossly disproportionate sentence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Although he did not appeal against conviction, I perused the court record with care to ensure that he was not prejudiced by lack of legal representation.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 I am satisfied that he was not.
\par 
\par The question of whether mandatory sentences generally are inconsistent with the principle of the independence of the judiciary, has been canvassed by courts in the past.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 I reviewed those decisions in }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 State }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 -}{
\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 v}{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 -}{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059  Audie Pickering}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  Miscellaneous Action No. HAM0}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
007 of 2001S, and found that the judicial consensus appeared to be that minimum mandatory sentences did not generally offend the principle of the independence of the judiciary, or of the doctrine of the separation of powers.
\par 
\par However, minimum mandatory sentences can offend section 25(1) of the Constitution, which protects offenders from }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 65 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt
\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 disproportionately severe treatment or punishment.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 64 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols"
 \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f36\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 A court can declare a 
punishment disproportionately severe generally, on the ground that such punishment would be disproportionate for a reasonable hypothetical offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 It can also so declare on the ground that the punishment is disproportionately severe for a particular offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 The more serious the offence, the less likely it is, that a sentence will be declared disproportionately severe.
\par 
\par In this case the Appellant was charged with being in possession of more than 500 grams of marijuana.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 He admitted that the drugs were int
ended for a dealer.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 The trafficking and dealing in drugs, are very serious problems in Fiji.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 
 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 It is because of the growers, dealers and traffickers, that the lives of many young people are destroyed by drug dependency.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 In the circumstances I find that a sentence of 5 years imprisonment is not disproportionately severe.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Indeed, even if the Dangerous Drugs Act did not provide for a minimum mandatory sentence, it is likely that the Magistrate would have sentenced the Appellant to the same sentence of 5 years im
prisonment.
\par 
\par The sentence is not disproportionate to the offence, either in principle, or on the facts of this case.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
The appeal against sentence is dismissed.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1711059 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 
\par At Suva
\par 28}{\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1004560\charrsid1711059  August 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1711059 
\par }}