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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\par 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 Criminal Appeal No: HAA 070 of 2007
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6055859\charrsid4988147 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 Between:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147\charrsid4988147 

\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 JOSATEKI NACAGAILEVU
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 Appellant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 And:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 THE STATE
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2182664\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 Hearing:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 27th July 2007
\par Judgment:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 3rd August 2007
\par 
\par Counsel:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10895239\charrsid4988147 Appellant in person}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10033072\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10895239\charrsid4988147 Ms S. Hamza for State
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12782190 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12782190 {\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 JUDGMENT
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 
The Appellant appeals against a sentence of 4 years imposed by the Valelevu Magistrates\rquote  Court on the 3rd of May 2007.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 
He says that the sentence is harsh, excessive and wrong in principle.
\par 
\par The charge, filed on the 19th of April 2007, alleged that the Appellant with another, on the 17th of }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1395163\charrsid4988147 A}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 
pril 2007 at Nasinu, robbed Rajendra Kumar of $300 and one mobile phone, and at the time of the robbery used personal violence on him.
\par 
\par The Appellant pleaded guilty on the 19th of April after waiving his right to counsel.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 The facts }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 were that the Appellant and another man hired the complainant\rquote s taxi from Nasinu to Tovata.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 At Tovata, the two men pressed his mouth and tied a brushcutter cord around his neck.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 The complainant shouted for help and three farmers at a farm nearby heard him.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 
They came to help and apprehended the }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1395163\charrsid4988147 A}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 ppellant, later handing him over to the police officers of the Tuirara Police Post.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 The Appellant was interviewed under caution and admitted the offence.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 He said that his accomplice had taken the cash and the mobile phone from the complainant\rquote s shirt pocket.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10552950\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4723382\charrsid4988147 These fa}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1395163\charrsid4988147 c}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4723382\charrsid4988147 ts were admitted.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4723382\charrsid4988147 He was a first offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4723382\charrsid4988147 In 
}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12287961\charrsid4988147 mitigation, he said he was 23 years old, married with a 6 year old child, unemployed, educated to Form 6 level and an occasional fisherman.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  
}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12287961\charrsid4988147 He said that his accomplice was the principal offender and admitted that he tied the complainant\rquote s neck to enable his accomplice to rob him.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid20268\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12287961\charrsid4988147 
\par In his sentencing remarks, the learned Magistrate started at 6 years imprisonment and after taking into account the early guilty plea, the }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5592805\charrsid4988147 A}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12287961\charrsid4988147 ppellant\rquote s youth and good character, the value of the items stolen, the degree of violence and the lack of injuries, }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4349755\charrsid4988147 
sentenced him to 4 years imprisonment.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12287961\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4349755\charrsid4988147 
\par State counsel submits that this is correct in principle and neither harsh nor excessive.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4349755\charrsid4988147 
She refers to a number of decisions where there were robberies committed on taxi-drivers, and says that sentences are usually imposed in the range of 4 to 7 years.
\par 
\par This was a robbery on a taxi-driver, who was hired to drive the Appellant and his accomplice to a remote area so that they could rob him.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4349755\charrsid4988147 
It was a planned robbery and the use of the cord around the victim\rquote s neck must have }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8677467\charrsid4988147 caused}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6495859\charrsid4988147  much}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8677467\charrsid4988147  fear to the driver who was earning an honest }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147 living providing an important service to the public.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147 
The 4 year term is at the lowest end of the tariff and was imposed because the Appellant is a first offender and because he was not the princip}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6495859\charrsid4988147 al}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147  offender.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4349755\charrsid4988147 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147 
\par I am not persuaded to interfere with this sentence, but hope that whilst in custody the }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5592805\charrsid4988147 A}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147 
ppellant is able to learn vocational skills that he can put to good use when he is released.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4988147  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14422695\charrsid4988147 This appeal is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4988147 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13306721\charrsid4988147 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13306721\charrsid4988147 JUDGE
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\par At Suva
\par 3rd August 2007}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10895239\charrsid4988147 
\par }}