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High Court of Fiji |
Fiji Islands - The State v Cakacaka - Pacific Law Materials
IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
AT SUVA
CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL CASE NO: HAC 007 OF 2000S
STATE
-v-
p class=MsoNormoNormal align=center style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> NETANI CAKACAKA
N-GB>
Counsel: Mr F. Vosarogo for the State
Accused inon
Hearing: 16th May 2001
Sentence: 17th May 2001
SENTENCE
The Defendant Netani Cakacaka has pleaded guilty ve counts of the amended Information of the Director of Public Prosecutions as follows:
ass=MsoNormal stal style="margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> COUNT 1
Statement of Offence
ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE: Contrary to section 293(1) of the Penal Code, Cap 17.
Particulars of Offence
&-GB>
NETANI CAKACAKA and LEDUA TIKOSAYA CAGILEVU, and another on the 20th day of October at Nausori in the Central Division, robbed DEEPAK LODHIA sHIA s/o DHIRU BAI the owner of TULJA JEWELLERS of assorted jewellery to the total value of $6,500.00 and immediately before such robbery threatened the said DEEPAK LODHIA s/o DHIRU BAI with cane knives.
COUNT 2
< Statement of Offence
/p>
DANGEROUS DRIVING: Contrary to section 38(1) of the Traffic Act Cap 176.
Particulars of Offence
NETANI CAKACAKA on the 20th day of October 199Nausori in the Central Division drove Motor Vehicle registration number BN069 on Wainibokasbokasi Road in a manner which was dangerous to the public having regards to all the circumstances of the case.
COUNT 3
Statement of Offence
DANGEROUS DRIVING: Contrary to section 38(1) of the Traffic Act, Cap 176.
Particulars of Offence
&nGB>
NETANI CAKACAKA on the 20th day of October 1999 at Nausori in the Central Division dMotor Vehicle registration tion number BN069 on NG Patel Road in a manner which was dangerous to the public having regards to all the circumstances of the case.
p class=MsoNormal stal style="margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> COUNT 4>
Statement of Offence
DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT A DRIVING LICENCE: Coy to sections 23 and 85 of 5 of the Traffic Act, Cap 176.
Particulars of Offence
NETANI CAKACAKA on the 20th day of October 1999 at Nausori in the Central Division drove a Motor Vehicle Regiion Number BN069 on NG Pate Patel Road without being a holder of a valid driving license in respect of the said vehicle.
COUNT 5
>
Statement of Oe
DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN CONTRAVENTION OF THIRD PARTY POLICY RISK: Contrary to section 4(1) of the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act, Cap 177.
Particulars of Offence
NETANI CAKACAKA on the 20th day of October 1999 at Nausori in the Central Division droMotor Vehicle Registration tion Number BN069 on NG Patel Road when not covered under the Insurance of Third Party Policy required by the provision of the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act, Cap 177.
The facts as outlined by the prosecution are that the Defendant with two others came to Nausori town on the 20th of October 1999 itolen vehicle. The Defendanendant remained in the vehicle, parked outside the Tulja Jewellery Shop, whilst his accomplices entered the shop, masked and armed with cane-knives. They threatened the shop assistants and owner with the knives. They broke the show glass, and removed jewellery to the value of $6,500, the property of Deepak Lodhia. When a member of the public locked the door from the outside, they broke the window glass and escaped in the stolen vehicle driven by the Defendant. The Defendant then sped off down the back streets of Nausori. Opposite the market he overtook a Tebara bus on the right lane at high speed and hit a private car driven by one Mohammed Afzal.
He then drove towards Rewa Bridge and turned into Nausori town again. He then collided into a taxi Reg. No. CT388. He then drove towards the airport.
He was later apprehended by the villagers at Nakelo and handed over to the police. The jeweller never recovered.
The Defendant agreed to these facts, and was convicted. Ttecedent history tendered by DC Aminiasi Lakoenavuli shows that the Defendant is 28 years oars old and is married with no children. He is unemployed and is educated up to Form 3 level. He assists his parents in the running of a small cafeteria.
His previous convictions are numerous, dating back to 1989 for offences such as Robbery witlence, House-breaking and Driving Motor Vehicle in contravetravention of Third Party Risk. His last conviction not recorded on his printed list of previous conviction was for Being in Possession of Dangerous Drugs on 11th May 2001, for which he is serving a term of 4 months imprisonment.
p class=MsoNormal stal style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> In mitigation, the Defendant asked for forgivennd expressed remorse. He said he had not committed any offence since these, except for the the drugs offence for which he is currently serving. On 19th April 2001, the Defendant’s co-accused, Ilaisa Sousou Cava, was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment to be served concurrently with his pre-existing term.
In that sentence, I canvassed the tariff in the Fiji Courts, and the courts abroad, for offences of armed robbery. I adopt the guidelines set out in that decision, for the purpose of this sentence. Appropriate sentences for the robbery of shops should range from four to seven years.
ass=MsoNormal stal style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> In this case there are several aggravating features such as the use of the cane knind masks, and the attack in broad daylight on a defencelesseless jeweller and his shop assistants. No jewellery was ever recovered, and there was damage done to the shop glass and show glass.
I take into account the Defendant’s expressed remorse and his guilty plea. I also find that with his long list of previous convictions, he is not entitled to the leniency shown to first offenders. His role in the robbery was as the look-out and the driver. He is no less culpable than his accomplices who took part in the raid in the shop. In respect of Counts 2, 3 and 4, the normal sentences given for these offences in the Magistrates Court is $100 fine. There are no mitigating features in respect of these offences and I will therefore impose the normal tariff. In respect of Count 5, I impose the mandatory sentence of disqualification. There are no special reasons not to.
Taking all these matters into account, I sentence him asows:
Count 1:  p; &nsp;&nnbsp; 5 years imprint>
pan lN-GB> 2:&nnbsp;; nbsp; $100 fineefaudefault 3 lt 3 lt 3 monthmonths imps imprisonment
Count 3: ;&nspp;&nssp; $100 fine in default 3 mon3 months imprisonment
Count 5: &nbbsp; Diified from Drom Driving ving for 2 years.
&n/span
: 1">
HaGB>Having considered the totality principle I consider that the Defendant should serve his term of five years imprisonment consecutive to the current term of four months imprisonment that he is serving.
Nazhat Shameem
JUDGE
At Suva
17th May 2001
Hac0007x.00s
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