{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang5129\deflangfe5129{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f59\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f60\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f62\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f63\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f64\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f65\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f66\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f67\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;
\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;
\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \snext0 Normal;}{
\s1\qj \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\ul\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 1;}{
\s2\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 2;}{
\s3\qr \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel2\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 3;}{
\s4\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs24\ul\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 4;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{\*
\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv 
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid8604141\rsid13644635}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.6612;}{\info
{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI (AT SUVA)}{\author Amelia Rasovo}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo8\dy30\hr11\min15}{\revtim\yr2004\mo8\dy31\hr10\min41}{\printim\yr2002\mo1\dy3\hr10\min2}{\version3}{\edmins3}{\nofpages4}{\nofwords1161}
{\nofchars6621}{\*\company Judicial Department}{\nofcharsws7767}{\vern16389}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0
\jexpand\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot8604141 \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang 
{\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang 
{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain 
\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635\charrsid13644635 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 (AT SUVA)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 CIVIL ACTION NO. HBC 103 OF 2000S
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 FIJI TIMES LIMITED
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Plaintiff
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 FIJI NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 First Defendant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Second Defendant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par F.Y. Haniff for the Plaintiff
\par P. Knight for the First Defendant
\par S. Sharma for the Second Defendant
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 DECISION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par These proceedings were commenced by Originating Summons filed on 13 March 2000.
\par 
\par As will be seen from the supporting affidavit of Ubendra Rao, the Plaintiff\rquote s Company Secretary, the Fiji Times has for many years employed a number of people on a part time basis as and when required.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 These people called \'93inserters\'94 insert newsprint or g
lossy supplements such as calendars, posters or advertising materials into copies of the Fiji Times.
\par 
\par In early February 1998 after intervention by the Fiji Womens Rights Movement a dispute arose as to the precise employment status of the inserters.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The qu
estion was first, whether the inserters are to be classified as employees within the meaning of Section 13 of the Fiji National Provident Fund Act (Cap 219) and secondly, whether they are employees within the terms of Regulation 12 of the Employment Regul
ations 1965 (Cap 92 \endash  Subs).
\par 
\par In June 1998 the Fiji Times forwarded a copy of a legal advice which it had received from its legal advisers to the Ministry of Labour.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 A copy if Exhibit EU 3 to Mr. Rao\rquote s affidavit.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
The advice was that the inserters were not employees.
\par 
\par In September 1998 the Ministry replied (Exhibit UR 5).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
It advised the Fiji Times that legal advice had been obtained from the Solicitor-General.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
The advice received was that the inserters were indeed employees.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The Ministry gave the F
iji Times seven days to regularise the inserters}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  status by granting them leave entitlements as provided by regulation 12.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The penult}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635 i}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 m}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635 a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 t}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635 e}
{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  paragraph of the Ministry\rquote s letter reads as follows:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 \'93I have been directed to proceed with legal action should you fa
il to adhere to the above within the specified time since the matter has been pending for some time.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par The Fiji Times did not comply with the Ministry\rquote s request but, according to an affidavit in reply filed by Valentine Low on 20 April 2000 on behalf of th
e First Defendant it was instead agreed in 1999 that the Fiji Times would institute civil proceedings in the Suva Magistrates\rquote  Court to clarify the inserters legal status.
\par 
\par By January 2000 the Fiji Times had neither complied with the Ministry\rquote s letter of}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
September 1998 nor with the agreement which it had reached with the First Defendant to initiate proceedings in the Suva Magistrates\rquote  Court.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 On 11 January 2000 the Fiji Times was summoned to the Suva Magistrates\rquote  Court to face 12 criminal charges of failin
g to pay contributions on behalf of the inserters contrary to Sections 13 and 49 (1) (b) of the Fiji National Provident Fund Act.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 A copy of a sample summons is Exhibit UR 5.
\par 
\par According to Mr. Rao the principal reason for bringing these proceedings in the High Court is that:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 \'93
the Fiji Times does not believe a criminal proceeding is the forum in which to resolve these issues.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
It seeks a declaration of law binding on the parties and the Magistrates Court.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par On 4 May 2000 Tevita Kanutuba filed an affidavit on behalf of the Ministry.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 On 15 August a second affidavit was filed by Mr. Rao.
}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 On 25 January when the matter first came before me I pointed out that the affidavit revealed substantial issues of fact.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 I also referred Counsel to }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
Imperial Tobacco Ltd v. Attorney General}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  [1981] AC 718; [1980] 1 All ER 866.
\par 
\par Where substantial issues of fact are involved in litigation it is not appropriate to commence proceedings by way of Originating Summons.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Where proceedings have in fact thus been commenced Order 28 r 8 (1) allows the Court to direct that the matter continue as though commenced by writ.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The Court may order the affidavits to stand as pleadings or it may order pleadings to be served.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 All three Counsel agreed that the matter should continue as if begun by writ.
\par 
\par And even more fundamental question however was whether these proceedings should be allowed to continue at all.
\par 
\par In }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Imperial Tobacco}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  it was held that:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 \'93where criminal proceedings were properly 
instituted and were not vexatious or an abuse of the process of the court it was not a proper exercise of judicial discretion for a Judge of a Civil Court to grant the defendant in the criminal proceedings a declaration that the facts alleged by the prose
cution do not in law prove the offence charged because to make such a declaration would be to usurp the function of the criminal court without binding it and would thus inevitably prejudice the criminal trial one way or the other.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par In }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 R.v. DPP ex parte Camelot Group PLC}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  [1997] EWCA Civ 1393 Lord Justice Simon Brown spoke of:
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 \'93\'85 the only rigid rule, following }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Imperial Tobacco}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  is that once criminal proceedings have begun the Civil Courts should not intervene.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par As has been seen, criminal proceedings against the Fiji Times were commenced by the FNPF well over a year after the Fiji Times failed to comply with the Ministry of Labour\rquote s direction.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The present proceedings were commenced about 2 months later.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 As appears from an affidavit of F.Y. Haniff (who should remember that it is not proper for counsel to appear in a cause both as counsel and as witness \endash  see }{
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 John Alexander Watson v. Bish Limited}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
- FCA Reps 85/179) the criminal proceedings against the Fiji Times were withdrawn by the FNPF under the provisions of
 section 201 (2) (b) (ii) of the Criminal Procedure Code on 27 February 2001, that is over 12 months after they were commenced and almost one year after these present proceedings were instituted.
\par 
\par In the light of }{\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Imperial Tobacco}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635  I was much concerned about
 what had happened, a concern which was in no way alleviated when Mr. Knight drew my attention to the final paragraph of Mr. Low\rquote 
s affidavit and told me that the prosecution by the FNPF had only been brought to bring pressure to bear on the Fiji Times to commence these civil proceedings.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 The FNPF, Mr. Knight suggested, was not really very interested in securing a conviction: its main concern was to seek a clarification of the legal status of the inserters.
\par 
\par Frankly, I found this submission quite shocking.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
It overlooks the fact that the decision to prosecute is an extremely serious one and not one to be taken lightly and certainly not for merely tactical reasons.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 It appears that the Fiji National Provident Fund needs to be 
reminded that in exercising its discretion to prosecute it must be guided by the principles set out in the Director of Public Prosecutions\rquote  Office Manual, January 1990, Appendix C.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 If all that is required is that the law be clarified then the FNPF should proceed under Section 56 of the Act.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 A prosecution must not be brought unless criminal conduct is believed to have occurred.
\par 
\par As I made fairly clear to counsel the history of this dispute has left me with a distinct sense of unease.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 I was strongly minded
 to stay these proceedings if only to emphasise that recourse by defendants in criminal proceedings to the Civil Courts with the view to securing the avoidance, circumvention or postponement of the criminal proceedings will not be countenanced.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Yet the fa
ct is that prosecution has been withdrawn and the parties (although the Attorney-General has vacillated) seem ready to have the status of the inserters decided in the High Court.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 There would of course be no bar to renewed prosecution if the decision in this action were to go against the Fiji Times.
\par 
\par In all the circumstances and with some reluctance, I will allow the present action to proceed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
It will do so as though commenced by writ.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 A statement of claim must be filed by the Plaintiff within 21 days.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13644635  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 Thereafter the action will take its normal cause.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 M.D. Scott
\par Judge
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13644635 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8604141\charrsid13644635 
\par 21 December 2001
\par }}