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\f35\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 HIGH COURT CRIMINALCASE NO: HAC 013 OF 2008
\par CRIMINAL CASE NO.: 67 of 2008
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 BETWEEN:
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\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 PROSECUTION
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 AND:
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 LAISIASA KOROIVUKI}{
\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 ACCSUED PERSON
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\f0\fs24\insrsid8131531\charrsid5442433 Counsel: State - Ms. A. Tuiketei
\par Accused Person - In person
\par 
\par Date of Hearing: 08/02/10; 10/02/10; 11/02/10; 12/02/10; 15/02/10; 
\par 17/02/10; 19/02/10; 22/02/2010.
\par 
\par }{\f0\fs24\insrsid8849658 Date of Sentence:}{\f0\fs24\insrsid8131531\charrsid5442433  26th February, 2010.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\b\f0\fs24\insrsid8131531\charrsid5442433 SENTENCE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 You Laisiasa Koroivuki have been found guilty for being in possession without lawful authority 1808.5 grams of cannabis an illicit drug.
\par 
\par The legislature has decided that the maximum punishment for this offence to be a fine not exceeding $1000000 or imprisonment for life or both.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 This shows how seriously the parliament expects the court to approach the offence.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Undoubtedly this large quantity is not for consumption by you but for the purpose of sale.
\par 
\par You in your caution interview statement admitted that you sell these drugs.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
Illicit drugs has become a serious problem in Fiji and considerable number of people have become addicts.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 I am incline
d to follow the sentencing guidelines for drug offences given in }{\b\i\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Meli Bavesi v The State Criminal Appeal HAA 027 of 2004}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 .}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Drugs offenders were described into 3 categories.

\par 
\par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Category 1}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 -}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
The growing of a small number of cannabis plants for personal use by an offender or possession of small amount of cannabis coupled with }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531 "}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 technical}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531 "}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
 supply of the drug to others on a non-commercial basis.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 First offender a short prison term, perhaps served in the community.
}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Sentencing point 1 to 2 years.
\par 
\par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Category 2}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 -}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
Small scale cultivation of cannabis plants or possession for a commercial purpose with the object of deriving profit, circumstantial evidence of sale even on small scale commercial basis.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 The starting point for sentencing should generally be between 2 to 4 years.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 However, where sales are limited and infrequent and lowest starting point might be justified.
\par 
\par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Category 3}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 -}{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Reserved for the most serious classes of offending involving large scale comme
rcial growing or possession of large amounts of drug usually with a considerable degree of sophistication, large numbers of sales, circumstantial or direct evidence of commercial involvement the starting point would generally be 5 to 6 years.
\par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Therefore based on the above factors I take 5 years imprisonment as your starting point.
\par 
\par The aggravating factors are the amount of drugs and the fact that the commercial use to which you intended to put the drugs.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
Also I consider the ways and places you have hidden the drugs in the house so that you prevent others especially Law and Enforcement Authorities from detecting the same.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 On these factors I increase your sentence by 2 years.
\par 
\par Your mitigating factors are that you are 29 years old, married with 2 children and that you are the sole breadwinner of the family.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{
\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 On the mitigating factors I reduce the sentence by 12 months.
\par 
\par As you have a previous conviction although it is not for a illicit drug offence you are not entitle to a discount on good behavior.
\par 
\par Further I reduce one month from the sentence considering the period of remand.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531  }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 
\par 
\par You are therefore ordered to serve 5 years and 11 month imprisonment forthwith.
\par 30 days to appeal.
\par 
\par I further order that the drugs be disposed of under the supervision of the Officer In-charge of the High Court Registry within 7 days.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5442433 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid8131531 Priyantha Fernando
\par Puisne Judge
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\par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8131531\charrsid5442433 26/02/2010}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1972231\charrsid5442433 
\par }}