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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appe}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13841691\charrsid15956990 l}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 late Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1 OF 1991
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 VINOD PRASAD
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 s/o Ram Prasad
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13841691\charrsid15956990 Appellant
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13841691\charrsid15956990 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13841691 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid15956990 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. J. Prakash for the Respondent
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13841691 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 JUDGMENT
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\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 The appellant pleaded guilty in the Suva Magistrate Court to 3 counts of }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Forgery, Uttering a Forged Document}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  and }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Attempting to Obtain Money on a Forged Document}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15956990  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
Upon his conviction he was sentenced to concurrent terms of 12 months imprisonment on each count.
\par 
\par He now appeals against both his conviction and the sentence on several non-specific grounds which he later detailed as a denial of his right of election and a harsh and excessive sentence.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15956990  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 He asks for a suspended sentence.
\par 
\par {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}As for the appeal against conviction the trial record reveals that the appellant pleaded }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 guilty}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  in the lower court and in the absence of good and sufficient reasons to hold that the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 s pleas were }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 equivocal}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
, this court is bound by the provisions of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Section 309(1)}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  of the Criminal Procedure Code}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15956990  which states}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15956990 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
No appeal shall be allowed in the case of an accused person who has pleaded guilty and has been convicted on such a plea by a magistrate}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 s court, except as to the extent or legality of the sentence.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13841691 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
\par At the hearing of the appeal, the appellant submitted that he was not given an opportunity to elect the court he wished to be tried in before his pleas were taken.
\par 
\par In this regard the trial record confirms }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 (by its absence)}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  the appellant}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 s claim.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15956990  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
If he does have a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 right of election}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  then the failure of the trial court to afford him that }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 right
}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  renders the entire proceedings a nullity.
\par 
\par The answer to this problem is clearly provided by the }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Electable Offences Decree}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 No. 25 of 1988}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  which had the effect of denying to all persons charged with Penal Code of
fences otherwise triable in the Magistrate Court, a right of election }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
......... unless the offence with which he has been charged is an electable offence}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 "}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 .
\par 
\par The }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Schedule}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  to the decree then prescribes }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 electable offences}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  of which }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Forgery}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  contrary to Section 335(1) & (2) are listed.
\par 
\par Clearly the appellant was charged with an }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 electable offence}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  in }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Count 1}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  of the charge and he was entitled to elect the court in which he wished to be tried for that offence.

\par 
\par He was denied that entitlement in respect of the }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Forgery}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
 Count and the proceedings in that respect must be considered to be fundamentally flawed.
\par 
\par However the offence charged in }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Count 3}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  namely, }{
\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Attempting to Obtain Money on a Forged Document}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Contrary to Section 345 and 381 of the Penal Code}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  is not listed as an }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 electable offence}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  and although the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 s plea of guilty may be theoretically sustained in respect of that count, the }{\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Particulars of Offence}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  are so unsatisfactory and incomplete as to render the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
s plea of guilty thereto equivocal.
\par 
\par The appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid401776 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 s convictions on all 3 Counts are accordingly quashed and the sentences imposed set aside.
\par 
\par In these circumstances learned State Counsel submits that the proper order of the Court would be to make an order for a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 retrial}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 however}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691  having carefully con
sidered the facts outlined by the prosecution, this Court is not at all satisfied that the charges presently laid against the appellant correctly or properly reflect the nature of the Forgery he is alleged to have committed.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15956990  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 Accordingly I make no order for retrial.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13841691 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13841691 {\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11283291\charrsid13841691 At Suva,
\par 14th February, 1991.
\par }}