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{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\author Roselyn}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2005\mo12\dy14\hr15\min3}{\revtim\yr2005\mo12\dy14\hr15\min34}{\printim\yr2003\mo7\dy22\hr11\min46}{\version3}{\edmins2}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords444}{\nofchars2535}
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\f37\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT LABASA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 
\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482 CRIM. APP. NO. HAA0}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 006J OF 2003B

\par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 
\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 BETWEEN:}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10898659\charrsid7407482 
\par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10898659\charrsid7407482 
\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 PAULIASI NADALI
\par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 
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\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 THE STATE
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Miss S. Shah for the State
\par 
\par Date of Judgment: 24 July 2003
\par Time of Judgment: 9.30 A.M.
\par 
\par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 
\par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8397474 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 The Appellant Pauliasi Nadali was convicted in the Labasa Magistrates\rquote 
 Court on 5 August 2002 for two (2) charges of housebreaking entering and larceny.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
The total value of property stolen in one was $704, in the other $503.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 A total of $630 worth of the i
tems were recovered in respect of both offences.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
The learned Magistrate sentenced the Appellant to 12 months imprisonment for each charge to be served consecutively.
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\par There is only a single ground for appeal and that is that the sentence was \'93too harsh and seems unconstitutional.\'94}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
The Appellant elaborated by alluding to the fact that he had readily cooperated with the police resulting in the recovery of most of the items stolen.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 He then referred to the other mitigating factors; that he has, since committ
ing these offences gone back to his village and got married, started a business and attended church regularly now.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
All of these, the Appellant submits, were not taken into account by the learned Magistrate when considering his plea for a non-custodial sentence.
\par 
\par Counsel for the State opposed the appeal.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 She argued that the offences were serious.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 They were pre-meditated, the Appellant having scouted and identified vacant residences before breaking into them.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 Such offences are so prevalent as to raise great concern to law enforcement agencies.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
At any rate, Counsel stated that the learned Magistrate had in fact considered the mitigating factors raised by the Appellant in his judgment.
\par 
\par The record of the proceedings in the Court below does not support the Appellant\rquote s contention.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
The learned Magistrate had particularly made reference to the mitigating factors that was raised by the Appellant, before he passed judgment.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 He had also considered the fact that the Appellant had 21 previous convictions of similar nature to those offences he was being charged, spanning the last 18 years.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 The Appellant\rquote 
s record show that he is no more than a habitual thief who preys on the innocent members of the public to satisfy his greed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
Under the circumstances, the sentence of 12 months imprisonment is perfectly reasonable, notwithstanding the fact that the majority of stolen items have been recovered.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 The sentence cannot be considered harsh or excessive under any measure.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 Nor is the argument an unconstitutionality of the sentence of any substance.
\par 
\par The Appellant may have mended his ways and does seriously intend to settle down to a normal life as he has just found a partner.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7407482  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
But he is first to pay for his crime and if he is really genuinely remorseful of his past conduct, then the next few weeks in prison before his release will not matter a great deal to his new wife and life that awaits him on the outside.
\par 
\par The appeal is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7407482 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid7407482 F. Jitoko
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 JUDGE}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2250509\charrsid8397474 
\par }}