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High Court of Kiribati |
HIGH COURT OF KIRIBATI
Criminal Case № 31/2018
THE REPUBLIC
v
MATIKEE TOROMON
Eweata Maata for the Republic
Reiati Temaua for the prisoner
Date of sentencing: 20 December 2019
SENTENCE
[4] On 4 June 2019 (which was to have been the first day of the trial) counsel for the prosecution amended count 1 of the information to substitute a charge of indecent assault. Counsel for the prisoner then advised that his client would now plead guilty to both charges. The matter was adjourned for sentence submissions to 14 June.
[5] The offence of indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment, while the maximum sentence for entering a dwelling-house in the night with intent is imprisonment for 7 years. The prisoner’s conduct – sucking the complainant’s breast and engaging in non-penetrative sex – sits in the middle of the range for offences of this kind. Such offending will ordinarily attract a custodial sentence.
[6] In the course of the sentence submissions, counsel for the prisoner provided the Court with several medical reports, 2 of which had been prepared by Dr Arite Kauongo, the psychiatrist in charge of Te Meeria mental health ward. It transpired that, in 2014 (when he was 17), the prisoner had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Prior to committing these offences, he had been admitted to Te Meeria on several occasions, with the most recent admission occurring in February 2017. After that however, the prisoner missed several follow-up appointments and stopped taking his medication. The day after his arrest he was re-admitted to Te Meeria. According to Dr Arite, around the time of the offences the prisoner was experiencing auditory hallucinations, persistent insomnia and bouts of aggression. He was “mentally unwell”.
[7] Subsequently, the prisoner began receiving regular treatment. He regained his mental health to the point that he was successful in gaining admission to the Marine Training Centre. In order to give the prisoner a further opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to complying with his treatment regime, and with his consent, I deferred passing sentence for 6 months under section 45 of the Penal Code. He now comes back before me to be sentenced.
[8] In the intervening period the prisoner has done all that he needed to do. He took his medication as required and kept his appointments at Te Meeria. Last Friday he graduated from the Marine Training Centre. This is an impressive achievement, particularly given the challenges he faces.
[9] As I have said, the prisoner’s offending would ordinarily attract a custodial sentence. However his mental health issues warrant special consideration. I am satisfied that the prisoner is genuinely remorseful. He has no previous convictions and his pleas of guilty were entered as soon as the prosecution withdrew the rape charge. He has the strong support of his father.
[11] If the prisoner is to honour his bond, it will be necessary for him to refrain from breaking the law. I also intend to make it a condition of the prisoner’s bond that he continue to receive treatment as directed by the psychiatrist at Te Meeria. As long as he sticks to his treatment regime, I am satisfied that he poses no risk to the community.
[12] Before leaving Court today, the prisoner must sign an acknowledgment of the conditions of the bond and of the consequences of failing to comply with those conditions.
[13] The prisoner is convicted on his pleas of guilty. Instead of sentencing him today, I order that he be released on a bond without punishment for 1 year and 6 months. If, during that period, the prisoner fails to observe the conditions of his bond, he can be brought back before the Court to be sentenced for the original offences.
Lambourne J
Judge of the High Court
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URL: http://www.paclii.org/ki/cases/KIHC/2019/138.html