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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT LABASA
\par APPELLATE JURI}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344\charrsid676344 S}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 DICTION
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 7 OF 2002
\par (Taveuni Mag. Ct. Crim. Case No. 331/01)
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Between:
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 ABOROSIO IKANIDEVO
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Appellant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344\charrsid676344 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 STATE
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Respondent}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Appellant in Person
\par Mr. J. Rabuku for the State}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344 
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 JUDGMENT}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344\charrsid676344 
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\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 This is an appeal against sentence on the ground that it is harsh and excessive.
\par 
\par The appellant was on 12 November 2001 on his own plea of guilty convicted and sentenced to two years\rquote  imprisonment along with two others for the offence of }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 larceny of cattle}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344  contrary to }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 section 275}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344  of the Penal Code Cap. 17.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 He had with two others between 1 June 2001 and 8 October 2001 at Vatuwiri Estate, Taveuni}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 stolen a bull valued at $300 the property of the said Vatuwiri Estate.
\par 
\par The appellant who is a 20 year old farmer with one conviction submitted that the sentence is harsh compared to the sentences given for other offences.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 He said that his co-accused Lepani Temo who has a number of previous convictions received the same sentence as him.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 He asked for reduction in sentence.}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 The learned counsel for the State agreed that the sentence of 2 years\rquote 
 imprisonment is on the high side as there is nothing in the record to show that the mitigating factors have been taken into account although on the same day in Criminal Appeal No. 9 
of 2002 some leniency was shown to the appellant by imposing a sentence of three months\rquote  imprisonment concurrent to the sentence in this Appeal.
\par 
\par After hearing the appellant and the learned State Counsel I consider that the sentence is on the high side as in the absence of anything on the Record it is possible that the learned Magistrate may not have taken the mitigating factors into account.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 There is no doubt that the appellant has committed a serious offence and offenders ought to be adequately punished.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Should the offence become prevalent Magistrates will be justified in imposing severe sentences.
\par 
\par For these reasons the sentence is set aside and it is substituted by a sentence of }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 15 months\rquote  imprisonment}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 .
\par 
\par The appeal is allowed to that extent.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 D. Pathik
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 Judge}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid676344 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid676344\charrsid676344 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11480714\charrsid676344 At Labasa
\par 20 May 2002
\par }}