Public Prosecutor v Lui [2002] VUSC 4; Criminal Case No 012 of 1999 (11 February 2002)

IN THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

SITTING AT EPI ISLAND

(Criminal Jurisdiction)

Criminal Case No.12 of 1span>

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

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JACK LUI, KALO MAEL and WILLIAM TOM

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– 11th February 2002.

I give you credit for pleading guilty. You have saved the girl form giving evidence. That is always very difficult in this kind of case. You also admitted the offence to Police when interviewed.

class="MsoNoMsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1; margin-bottom: 1"> It is more than 5 ½ years since the offence. I also give Credit for the fact you have no previous convictions.

You can tell everyone that if someone has sex with a girl under 13 years of age they will go to prison. If it is an older man, then it will be a long time.

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You were 18 and 19 years. You were old enough to knew it was wronthe time. She was at schoolchool and left school because of this. How would you feel if it was your daughter and this happened to her. And as a result she lost her education.

If this offence happened a year or two ago then the sentence be several years in prisonrison, even for a young man.

But since the time of this offence there has been a big chin your lives. You are both both now more mature. You each have a wife and a child.

I will sentence you each to two rs prison. That will be suspended for two years.

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Make sure you each look after your wife and children.

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Informed oht of appeal.

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Suspended sentence explained.

Dated 11^th February 2002.

R.J. Coventry.

Judge