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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 Appellant
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 Gagaj Rafeok Riogi
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 Respondent
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\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx1980\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8081204 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357 Counsel}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 :}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357\charrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 Mr W. Kurisaqila for Appellant
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\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357 SENTENC}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 E}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
\par On 20th August 2001, a conviction was entered in this court pursuant to the State\rquote s successful appeal against the acquittal in the Suva Magistrates\rquote  Court.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 By consent of both counsel, and pursuant to the powers of the High Court under section 319(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows the court to \'93
exercise any power which the magistrate\rquote s court might have exercised\'94, I have proceeded to sentence.
\par 
\par There has been some delay in proceeding to sentence because the Respondent has been out of the country, and has not been permitted to return under the Immigration Act.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 However, once the restriction was lifted, the Respondent himself has written to the court on the 30th of November 2001, and the 30th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357 
 of July 2002 asking }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 for sentencing to be adjourned to allow him to be here.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 On the 23rd of August 2002, with the agreement 
of both counsel, the Respondent was informed by letter that he would be sentenced today and that sentencing would proceed in his absence, if he did not attend court.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 He did not appear today.
\par 
\par Section 28(1)(h) of the Constitution provides that every person charged has the right:
\par 
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the court is satisfied that the person has been served with a summons or other process requiring his or her attendance and has chosen not to attend;\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
\par In this case the Respondent has sought adjournments on several occasions.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
This shows that he is aware of the proceedings, and of the new dates set.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
Further, the Chief Registrar wrote to him at his New South Wales address informing him that he would be sentenced today.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
In the circumstances I consider that the Respondent is aware of the proceedings and has chosen not to attend.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
In proceeding to sentence him in his absence, I am of the view there is no breach of section 28 of the Constitution.
\par 
\par The maximum sentence for sedition under section 66(1) of the Penal Code is two years imprisonment and/or $200 fine for a first conviction.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
There are no comparable cases decided in Fiji which might give me assistance in arriving at an appropriate sentence.
\par 
\par However I have taken into account all that has been said on the Respondent\rquote s behalf by counsel.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
In particular, I take into account the fact that he has been acting under the guidance and directions of the Gagaj Sau Lagfatmarau who is resident in Australia, that the Respondent has c
onducted his affairs in accordance with the wishes of his Clan, and that he was genuinely (but mistakenly) of the view, that he was acting lawfully.
\par 
\par However I must also consider the real disruption of the lives of ordinary Rotumans as a result of his acti
ons, and the fact that he appears to have consciously chosen a time to install the Gagaj Kausakmua, when Fiji and Rotuma were experiencing a period of intense political and social disruption.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 His actions did nothing to assist in the process of nation-rebuilding.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
For these reasons, I consider a term of one year imprisonment to be appropriate.
\par 
\par As to the question of suspension of the sentence, the facts of this case would ordinarily call for an immediate custodial sentence.
\par 
\par However, there has been considerable delay in sentencing for reasons which were partially beyond the Respondent\rquote s control.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
Further he has no previous convictions and there is no adverse report of his character.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 This factor weighs heavily in his favour.
\par 
\par For these reasons, I have decided to suspend the sentence pursuant to section 29(1) of the Penal Code, for a period of two years.
\par 
\par The sentence is therefore one year imprisonment suspended for two years.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 This means that if he re-offends in the next two yea
rs, he may have to serve the one year term I have imposed, in addition to any term imposed for the subsequent offence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6108357  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
A copy of this sentence is to be sent forthwith to the Respondent.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6108357 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13071419\charrsid6108357 
\par At Suva
\par 6th November 2002
\par }}