Matakorovatu v State [2020] FJCA 84; AAU174.2017 (17 June 2020)

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL, FIJI
[On Appeal from the High Court]

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.AAU 174 of 2017

[High Court of Suva Criminal Case No. HAC 355 of 2016]

BETWEEN:

ATEKINI MATAKOROVATU

Appellant

AND:

STATE

Respondent

Coram: Prematilaka, JA

Counsel: Ms. S. Nasendra for Appellant

Ms. S. Kiran for the Respondent

Date of Hearing: 08 June 2020

Date of Ruling : 17 June 2020

RULING

[1] The appellant had been charged with the appellant in AAU 026/2019 (Arisi Kaitani) in the High Court of Suva on two counts of Unlawful Possession and Unlawful Cultivation of Illicit Drugs contrary to section 5(a) of the Illegal Drugs Control Act. The information reads as follows.

FIRST COUNT
Statement of Offence

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF ILLICIT DRUGS: contrary to section 5(a) of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.

Particulars of Offence

ARISI KAITANI AND ATIKINI MATAKOROVA60;on the 15th day of September 2016 davu davu in the Eastern Division, unlawfully possessed 1184.4grams of an illicit drug known as cannabis sativa.

SECOND COUNT
Statement of Offence/p>

UNLAWFULAWFUL CULTIVATION OF ILLICIT DRUGS: contrary to section 5( the& the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004.

Partic of Oe

ARISI KAITANI AND ATIKINI MATI MATAKOROVATU on the 15th day of September 2016 at u davu in the Eastern Division, unlawfully cultivated 7975.7 grams of an illicit drug known as cannabis sativa.

[3] The appellant had signed an application for leave to appeal out of time on 27 November 2017 (received by the registry on 18 December 2017) against sentence. Legal Aid Commission had tendered an amended notice of appeal and an application for enlargement of time 08 May 2020 against sentence along with written submissions. The delay is nearly a month or at most less than 02 months. The State had tendered its written submissions on 01 June 2020.

[4] The brief summary of facts is as follows. The prosecution had led evidence of nine witnesses and relied on direct evidence and the admissions made by the accused in the cautioned interview to prove the two charges. The accused had given evidence and called one witnesses. Having considered the evidence of police witnesses PW1, PW2, PW3 and the military officer PW6 who took part in the raid, the learned trial judge had accepted their evidence that they saw the appellant uprooting plants in the farm before they were arrested. Given the demeanour and deportment of the accused when he gave evidence taken together with all the relevant evidence led in this case, the learned trial judge had found the appellant’s evidence that he was arrested on his way while he was looking for the herbal medicine and brought to the farm thereafter, not credible and reliable.

[5] Presently, guidance for the determination of an application for extension of time within which an application for leave to appeal may be filed, is given in the decisions in Rasaku v State CAV 001, of 2009: 24 April pril 2013 [2013] FJSC 4 Kumatate; Sinu v State CAV0001 of 2009: 2ust 2012&2012 [2012] FJSC 17.

[6] In Kum> th/b>th/b>the Supreme ourt held

‘[4] Appellate courts examine five factors by way of a principlproach to such applications. Those factors are:

(i) The reason for the failufailure to file within time.
(ii) The length of the delay.
(iii) Whether there is a ground of merit justifying the appellate court's consideration.
(iv) Where there has been substantial delay, nonetheless is there a ground of appeal that will probably succeed?
(v) If time is enlarged, will the Respondent be unfairly prejudiced?

[7] Rasaku the Suprourt further heer held

‘These factors may not be necessarily exhaustive, but they are certainly convenientsticks to assess the merit of an application for enlargement of time. Ultimately, it is fors for the court to uphold its own rules, while always endeavouring to avoid or redress any grave injustice that might result from the strict application of the rules of court.’

[8] Under the third and fourth factors in Kumar, test for enlargement of time now is ‘real prospect of success’. In Nasila v State [2019] FJCA 84; AAU0004.2011 (6 June 2019) the Court of Appeal said

‘[23] In my view, therefore, the threshold for enlargement of time should logically be higher than thaleave tove to appeal and der to obtaiargement ornt or extension of time the appellust satisfy tsfy this court that his apis appeal not only has ‘merits&#8217 woulbablyeed butd but also also has a ‘real prospect of sucf success’ (see R v Mill> [2002] QCA 56 (1 March 2002) o of toundsppeal......’

[9] >[9] I wouI would rald rather consider the third and fourth factors in Kumar

Ground of appeal against conviction

‘THAT the sentence ordered by the Court of 8 years 11 months with anon-parole of 6 years 11 months is manifestly harsh because of the Sentencing Judge adding 11 years for the aggravating factor which is an error given that he had used the same factor(s) for a starting point and again for aggravating factor(s).’

[10] Further guidelines to be followed for leave to appeal when a sentence is challenged in appeal are well settled (vide Naisua v State CAV0010 of 2013: 20 November 2013 [2013] FJSC 14; House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 49, m Nam Bae v The SThe State Criminal Appeal No.AAU00d Chirk King Yam v The State Criminal Appeal U0095 of 20of 2011). The test for leave to appeal is not whether the sentence is wrong in law but whether the grounds of apagainntence are arguabrguable points under the four principles of m Nam Bae's> cab>For an untimely ground ound of appeal against sentence to be considered arguable there must be a real prospect of its success in appeal. The aforesaideline as follows.

.

a> (i) Acted upon a wrong principle;
(ii) Allowed extraneous or irrelevant matters to guide or affect him;
(iii) Mistook the facts;
(iv) Failed to take into account some relevant consideration.

[11] The appellppellant argues that the learned trial judge had erred in law by using the same aggravating factors to select the starting point and then adding 11 years for the same aggravating factor resulting in the excessive enhancement of the sentence. In other words the appellant contends that there had been double counting in the sentencing as articulated recently in Senilolokula v &#16te[2017] FJCA 100; AAUof95 of 2013 (14 September 2017).

[12] The learned trial judge had taken 07 years as the starting point for the second count on cultin forreasot out in parn paragraphs 7-10 of the sentencing order.rder.

‘7. In the case of Tuidama v State [2016] FJHC 1027; HAA29.2016 (14 Novem016) court decided to apply the following tariff for the offence of unlawful cultivatiivation ofon of illicit drugs

a. The growing of a small number of plants for personal use by an offender on a non-commercial basis - 1 to 2 years imprisonment;

b.Small scale cultivation for a commercial purpose with the objective of deriving a profit - 3 to 7 years imprisonment;

c.Large scale commercial cultivation - 7 to 14 years imprisonment.

8. Cultivating up to 10 plants can be considered as non-commercial cultivation if there is no other evidence to the contrary. Cultivating more than 10 plants up to 100 plants can be considered as a small scale commercial cultivation and cultivating more than 100 plants can be considered as a large scale commercial cultivation.
   
9. With regard to the second count you have admitted that you were involved in cultivating 824 plants. Your sentence for the second count should be within the range of 7 to 14 years imprisonment as you have been engaged in large scale commercial cultivation according to the above categorisation.
   
10. I will first determine the sentence for the second count. I select 7 years imprisonment as the starting point of your sentence.’
    

[13] The Learned trial judge had then stated why he added 11 years as aggravating factors as follows.

‘11.Even though the weight of the plants was recorded as 7975.7 grams, you have been involved in cultivating 824 plants of cas sativa. The number of p of plants suggests that you have been involved in a very large scale cultivation of illicit drugs. Considering this factor I add 11 years to your sentence. The summary of facts does not reveal any other aggravating factor. Your sentence now is 18 years imprisonment.’

[14] The summary of facts is not before me. However, it appears from the evidence led in the co-appellant’s case (taken up for leave to appeal hearing together) that cannabis plants were being uprooted by the appellant and the co-appellant in AAU 026/2019 (Arisi Kaitani) in a farm when the police arrested them. The police officers had uprooted a total of 824 plants which included the plants uprooted by the appellant and his co-appellant. Evidence had not revealed how many plants had been uprooted by each of the accused. For the purpose of sentence of the appellant he had been considered as having been responsible for the cultivation of all 824 plants. Evidence had also not revealed whether the appellant and his co-appellant were uprooting cannabis plants in their own farm or whether they had been employed as workmen for wages or any other form of remuneration by someone who owned the farm. It is also not in evidence as to whether they participated only in the act of uprooting the plants on the day in question or whether they had been involved from the beginning in bringing the plants up till the stage of harvesting. Clearly, these considerations had not gone into the equation in the matter of sentence as there was no evidence led in the appellant’s case and even in his co-appellant’s case those things had not been revealed. Should such matters or similar aspects not be considered in the matter of sentence when accused are sentenced for ‘cultivation’ as aggravating or mitigating features? Of course, to unearth these matters there needs to be an efficient investigation by well-trained law enforcement officers. On the other hand if the legislative intention is zero tolerance in the cultivation of cannabis then sentencing anyone caught in any of the acts deemed to constitute cultivation with deterrent sentences in respect of the whole of the end product regardless of his role, degree of involvement, benefits to be received etc. may be justified. Perhaps, these are matters for the full court of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court to consider in the future.

[15] Be that as it may, I do not think that the learned trial judge could be faulted for having taken into account the substantially high quantity as an aggravating factor, for he had taken as the starting point the lowest of the range of sentencing tariff prescribed in Sulua v State&#1b>[2012] FJCA 33; AAU0093.2008 (31 May 2012). It is too naive to argue tha weight over and above the threshold of a category should auld attract the same sentence. Had the learned trial judge started at a higher end of the tariff there would have been some merit in the appellant’s argument.

[16] Sulua was a case concerning possession; not cultivation. However, the majority of judges of the Court of Appeal in Sulua had determined that the sentencing guidelines for possession of cannabis sativa should apply to offending verbs of "acquire, supplies, pes,uces, manufactures, cultivates, uses or administers" in section 5(a) of the Illicit Drugs Control Act 2004. guidsguids were based only on the weight of the illicit drug. They were made applicable toto other acts too namely ‘fer, transport, supply, use, manufacture, offer, sale, impo import, or export’ of an illicit drug as set out in section 5(b).

[17] However, it appears that the sentencing judges have not always applied Sulua guidelines when it comes to offences involving cultivation. The learned High Court judge had followed Tuidama v State [2016] FJHC 1027; HAA29.2016 (14 November 2016p>

[18] In Tuidama the High Court had decided to apply the fole following tariff based on the number of cannabis plants for the offence of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs calling in aid the judgment in Meli Bavesi v State [2004] FJHC 93; HAA 0027.2004;

1. The growing of a small number of plants for personal use by an offender on a non-commercial basis - 1 to 2 years imprisonment; [Cultivating up to 10 plants]
2. Small scale cultivation for a commercial purpose with the objective of deriving a profit - 3 to 7 years imprisonment; [Cultivating more than 10 plants up to 100 plants]

c. Large scale commercial cultivation - 7 to 14 years imprisonment. [Cultivating more than 100 plants]

[19] In State v Nabenu [2018] FJHC 539; HAA10.2018 (25 June 2018) the High Court suggested the following tariff after considering a number of previouisions including Ta;

1. The growing of a small number of plants (less than 9 plants with assumed yield of 40g per plant) for personal use by a first offender - non- custodial sentence or a fine at the discretion of the court.
2. Small scale cultivation (10 to 30 plants with assumed yield of 40g per plant) for a commercial purpose with the objective of deriving a profit - 1 to 3 years imprisonment, with or without a fine at the discretion of the court.

c. Medium scale commercial cultivation (30 -100 plants) - 3 to 7 years imprisonment with or without a fine at the discretion of the court.

4. Large scale cultivation capable of producing industrial quantities for commercial use (more than 100 plants) 7 - 14 years imprisonment with or without a fine at the discretion of the court.
   

[20] Nabenu inter aliahad equated thed the number of plants to a corresponding assumed weight. Both Tuidama and Nabenu had also considered trpose pose of cultivation (i.e. personal or commercial) and scale of the cultivation to determine the sentence.

[21] Dibi v State [2018] FJHC 86; HAA96.2017 (19uary 2018) had referred to d to In re Koroi [2012] FJHC 1029; HAR002-006.2012 (20 April 2012) where the following tariff for cultivation had been pronounced deviating from Sulua on the basis that Sulua did not apply to sentences involving cultivation.

‘19.] For ease of reference those tariffs as suggested by the U.K. Sentencing Council and adopted by this Court in Koroi are:

(i) Possession of up to 100 grammes or cultivation of no more than 5 plants, non-custodial sentences at the discretion of the Court

(ii) Possession of 100-1000 grammes and cultivation of 5-50 plants; custodial sentences in the range of one year to six years

(iii) Possession of more than 1000 grammes and cultivation of more than 50 plants, custodial sentences of six years or more
(iv) Possession of very large quantities (5kg or more) custodial sentences in the range of 10 to 15 year

20.] There will be times when the plants are many, but small, yielding a minimal weight (as in the present appeal) and a balance will have to be struck between use of the above categories.

[22] Tuidama had been criticized in Dibi on the ground that it had failed to consider Koroi and instead followed ‘discredited’ Meli Bavesi.
[23] Meli Bavesi in considering an appeal against possession stated the following guidelines for cultivation and possession.

‘Category 1 – Theing of a small nall number of cannabis plants for personal use by an offender or possession of small amount of cannabis coupled with “technical” supply of the drug to others on a nmmercial basis. First offenoffender a short prison term, perhaps served in the community. Sentencing point 1 to 2 years.

Category 2 – 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. The starting point for sente should generally be betweeetween 2 to 4 years. However, where sales are limited and infrequent and lowest starting point might be justified.

Category 3 – Res for the most sest serious classes of offending involving large scale commercial growing or possession of large amounts of drug usually with a considerable degree of sophistication, large numbf sales, circumstantial or l or direct evidence of commercial involvement the starting point would generally be 5 to 6 years.

[24] There is an appeal pending against the decision in Tuidama filed by the State bearing No. AAU003 of 2017 where the State had in its written submissions (a copy of which was filed in this appeal) had demonstrated with 08 examples that while some High Court judges follow Sulua guidelines others rely on Tuidama, Dibi and Nabenu and stated this had resultesulted in lack of uniformity in the sentencing in cases involving cultivation of illicit drugs. Regarding this anomaly in sentencing I can only reiterate my observations in parh 25 of the Ruling in Kumar v State [2020] FJCA 64; AAU033.2018 (28 May 2020) made on a similar situation in sentencing relating to aggravated burglary.

[25] It has to be admitted that there was no specific discussion on sentencing guidelines on cultivation in Sulua or in subsequent decisions in State v Dreduadua [2020] FJCA 7; AAU65 of 2016 (27 February 2020) and State v Mata [2019] FJCA 20; AAU0056 of 2016 (07 March 2019) as this issue of disparity of sentencing arising from different tariff regimes was not argued before the Court of Appeal. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court to revisit the sentencing guidelines on cultivation of illicit drugs in the light of the current situation which has surfaced. Whether sentencing in offences involving cultivation should be based on weight of cannabis or the number of plants or a combination of both cultivated in any given extent of land where cannabis plants are found with all other factors being considered as aggravating or mitigating the offence, would be a vital question to answer. Similarly, if the number of plants could be equated scientifically to a corresponding weight then whether Sulua guidelines could still be applied perhaps with suitable modifications even in the case of cultivation with other aggravating and mitigating factors specific to cultivation being taken into account in arriving at the final sentence, is also another matters to be considered.

[26] Though, the ground of appeal urged by the appellant against sentence does not have a reasonable prospect of success the above issue poses a question of law requiring no leave to appeal. However, the appeal is out of time.

[27] In the circumstances, I am inclined to grant enlargement of time against sentence.

[28] The learned High Court judge had imposed 02 years of imprisonment on the first count of possession but had stated as follows as to why Salua guidelines should not be applied to the appellant’s case. However, the appellant for obvious reasons does not challenge the sentence on the first count.

‘6.The sentencing tariff established in the majority judgment in the case of Sulua v State&[2012] FJCA 33; AAU0093.2008 (31 May 2012) is based on the weight of dried leaves of cannabis a. . Therefore, in my view, it would be unfair by you to apply the tariff established in (supra) to deto determine your sentence for the first count. The counsel for the State did not properly assist the court on this issue though it was raised by the court.

[29] Therefore, enlargement of ti appeal against sentence isce is allowed.

Order

1. Enlargement of time against sentence is allowed.

Hon. Mr. Justice C. Prematilaka

JUSTICE OF APPEAL