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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549183 \f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183\charrsid4549183 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI

\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183\charrsid4549183 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 15 OF 1991
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549183 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183\charrsid4549183 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549183 {\b\caps\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183\charrsid4549183 Saimone Kete
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 v.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183\charrsid4549183 
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid4549183 
\par }{\b\caps\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 The State}{\caps\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7948389 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549183 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4549183 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 In view of State Counsel}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s concession that in the absence of any enquiry by the trial magistrate as to the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 s knowledg
e or belief as to the age of the complainant and in the face of the prosecution}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s unchallenged assertion that : "The accused did not know complainant was under 16...," this court agrees with learned State Counsel}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s submission that he is unable to support the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s conviction on the basis that the facts outlined in support of his guilty plea disclosed a matter which could amount to a complete defence to the offence charged.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 In the absence of any inquiry by the learned trial magistrate as to the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 s state of knowledge or belief as to the complainant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s age and in the absence of the complainant the appellant}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 '}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 
s guilty plea must be considered to be equivocal and cannot be allowed to remain.
\par 
\par Accordingly I quash his conviction.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 The appellant is only d
ischarged and mindful that he has already served 1 1/2 months imprisonment, I make no order for retrial.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13925973 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 JUDGE
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\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291\charrsid4549183 At Suva,
\par 11th January, 1991.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14829291 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7948389 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389 HAA0015.91S}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7948389\charrsid7948389 
\par }}