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SULIASI BOLAKIVEI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 2. TAPIELA R}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 OKO}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 \par 3. ISOA VATURARABA}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 4. MALANI VOSACOLATI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 5. JOSEFA COLAIVAL}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 U}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 and \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 REGINAM \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 JUDGMENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 On the 6th January 1973 at Nausori Magi strates Court the five appellants were convicted after trial of rape contrary to section 144 of the Penal Code and were each sentenced to three years six months}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 imprisonment.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 The appellants, through counsel, have appealed}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 agains t conviction on the grounds that the decision is unreasonable and cannot be supported by the evidence, that}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 the trial Magistrate wrongly directed himself on the issue of corroboration, and that he wrongly admitted and relied on hearsay evidence; and have appealed against sentence as being harsh and excessive.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 Before an appellant can succeed on the first ground he must show that there was no evidence on which the trial Magistrate could reach the conclusion which he did if he properly directed himself (}{ \fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 Kamchan Singh v. The Police }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14972124\charrsid14879774 (1953) 4 F.L.R. 69). This the appellants have failed to do. There was ample evidence to establish the ingredients of the offence and to justify the conviction of each appellant. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par As to the second ground, the trial Magistrate in a detailed judgment went out of his way to deal fully with the question of corroboration and properly directed himself. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 The third ground relates to the admission in evidence of a complaint made by the victim of the rape after }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 event and is inexplicable, as a recent complaint in a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 sex}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 ual case does not offend the hearsay rule but is a classic exception to the rule excluding self-corroborative evidence. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 As to sentence, far from being harsh and excessive }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 it }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 was grossly inadequate, in view of the serious nature of }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 offence. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 The evidence clearly establishes that on the night }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 of}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 the 11th October 1}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 9}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 77 a sixteen year old girl was sleeping }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 at }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 her grandfather}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 s house when the five appellants, aged between seventeen and twenty years, broke into the house. }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 T}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 he girl was woken and punched an}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 d each of the appellants then ra}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 ped her. An eight year old bay, who was the only other occupant of the house at the time, ran to the nearest village }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 to }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 fetch help.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par Gang rape is particularly abhorrent and in this case the offence is further aggravated by the fact that the girl was attacked and raped in the security of her grandfather}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 house. In such circumstances I fail to understand why the trial Magistrate imposed such a mild sentence. \par \par In the past, sexual offences were not a serious problem in Fiji. Even at the time of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Crime (1975) rape had increased by only 4 per cent as compared to a 328 per cent increase in offences o f robbery. Since then, as I recently pointed out, there has been an alarming increase in rape, and on more than one occasion I have found it necessary to advise Magistrates in appropriate cases to use their maximum powers of sentence. \par \par The circumstances of rape vary considerably, and}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 there are many cases in which the maximum custodial sentence of five years}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 imprisonment that a Magistrate can impose is more than adequate, particularly where there is some element of invitation or encouragement}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 However }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 there are circumstances which warrant }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 a h}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 eavier sentence, particularly ga}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 ng rape, or where the rapist has used substantial violence, or has broken into the home}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 of the victim, and cases involving a quasi-parental relationship, or where the victim is very young. In such cases, regard should be had to section 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code which enables the prosecution to require that a preliminary inquiry be held with a view to having the accused committed to the Supreme Court for trial; to section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code which enables a Magistrate at}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 any stage to convert a trial into a preliminary inquiry and commit the accused to }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 the Supreme }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 Court for trial; and to section 212 of the Criminal Procedure Code which enables a magistrate to commit an accused to the Supreme Court for sentence if, as a result of matters revealed during the}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 hearing which are connected with the offence charged and which reflect on the accused}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 s character, or as a result of obtaining information as to the antecedents of the accused (including but not limited to previous convictio ns), the Magistrate is of opinion that greater punishment should be imposed in respect of the offence than he has power to inflict (}{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 R. v. Vallet}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 (1950) 34 Cr.App.R. 251; }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 R. v. King}{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{ \fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 s Lynn Justices}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 (1969) 53 Cr.App.R. 42). \par \par Like most violent offenders, the appellants had}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 all been drinking. Alcohol is the lubricant o f violence, and if there is to be a reduction in offences }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 gainst the person, and if the girls and women of Fiji are to be protected,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 something must be done to curb drunkenness. Heavier sentences alone are not the answer.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par The appeal is dismissed, the sentences are quashed, and in substitution therefor each appellant is sentenced to five years}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 imprisonment with effect from the 6th January 1978, and to six strokes of corporal punishment.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 Clifford H. Grant \par Chief Justice \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14879774 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 Suva, \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13925998 10th February 1978}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14879774\charrsid14879774 . \par }}