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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 CRIMINAL MISC. ACTION NO. HAM0}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343 0}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 43}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343 .20}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 02
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 BETWEEN:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 BHAWANI PRASAD
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 AND:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 THE STATE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par Counsel for the Applicant:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 T. Fa & Associates
\par Counsel for the Respondent:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 B. Solanki for the State
\par 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343 Date of Decision}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 :}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 28 November 2002
\par Time of Decision:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343\charrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 9.00 a.m.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 DECISION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par On the 30th of August, I delivered a judgment in this case, allowing the State}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 s appeal against acquittal, and ordering a retrial in the Magistrates Court.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 The Applicant has appealed against that decision by notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal, and applies for stay of my order for retrial.
\par 
\par The grounds for the application are that the appeal has merit and is bound to succeed, the appeal will be frustrated if there is a retrial before the Court of Appeal is able to hear the matter and that the Applicant will be prejudiced}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 because he will be interdicted once he is retried.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Further, the Applicant, in his affidavit in support of the application says that the complainant in the case, Mr Umesh Mani
 has withdrawn his complaint on condition that the Applicant also withdraws his complaint against the complainant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
A letter signed by Umesh Mani is annexed to the affidavit.
\par 
\par The State opposes the application, saying that the appeal has no merit, that the 
appeal is not confined to matters of law (as required by section 22 (1) of the Court of Appeal Act Cap. 12) and that police procedures did not require interdiction for the duration of the trial only, but that interdiction was affected once charges were la
id.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Counsel also submitted that the complainant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst 
SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
s offer to withdraw his complaint was conditional, and that there is no evidence before me that the condition has been complied with by the Applicant.
\par 
\par There is no statutory power given to the High Court to stay its own decisions, pending a second appeal to the Court of Appeal.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
However, I accept that I do have inherent powers to regulate the processes of the court and therefore to stay execution of my own orders.
\par 
\par These powers must be discretionary and the paramount principle is any prejudice to the parties if stay is or is not granted.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
The principle includes a consideration of the merits of the appeal, whether the appeal will be rendered nugatory if stay is not granted and any other circumstances relevant to the facts of the particular case.
\par 
\par I was told by both counsel that no hearing date has yet been assigned for retrial and that the case will be called for mention on the 29th of November 2002.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 No hearing date has been assigned for the appeal in the Court of Appeal and it is unlikely that the appeal will be heard before February next year.}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 It has not been suggested that the Magistrates Court will fix a hearing date before February of next year.
\par 
\par As to possible prejudice if the appeal succeeds there is a chance, that the Applicant will be retried before his appeal is heard.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
If this eventuates counsel has the right to make an application before the presiding Magistrate to adjourn the hearing until the Court of Appeal hears the case.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 This may of course lead to considerable delay.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
I note that the offences were allegedly committed in October 2001 and that a further delay is unlikely to assist the Applicant or the Respondent.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Indeed, delay is usually prejudicial to the accused and often leads to loss of memory and inaccuracies in the evidence.
\par 
\par Further, although the Applicant says that he thinks he will be interdicted once the retrial commences, this belief appears to be based on a mere conversation at the Nabua Police Station (overheard by ASP Goundar and related to th
e Applicant) and not on any official notification.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
Clearly he is not presently interdicted, despite the order for retrial and there is no reliable information given to me that interdiction will result from the retrial.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Thus, the submission is therefore not compelling.
\par 
\par On a balance of these factors, I consider that proceeding to retrial is less prejudicial to the Applicant (particularly because it will prevent further delay) than ordering a stay of the proceedings.
\par 
\par As to the complainants position, he states in his letter annexed to the Applicant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 s affidavit, that he is willing to withdraw his complaint, if the Applicant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f 
"WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 s wife withdraws hers against the complainant.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 The Applicant is silent on his willingness (or his wife}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols"
 \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 s willingness) to comply with that condition.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 In the circumstances, the complainant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 {\field{\*\fldinst SYMBOL 61 \\f "WP TypographicSymbols" \\s 12}{\fldrslt\f40\fs24}}}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 s position does not assist him.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
If both parties withdraw their complaints, the Director of Public Prosecutions may decide not to proceed to retrial anyway.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
However that is a matter for him.
\par 
\par Finally, in relation to the merits of the appeal, I note that counsel said that a further ground (in addition to bias) would be added to the grounds of appeal in the Court of Appeal and that is that a retrial is not possible after an acquittal}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 under section 319 (1) (b) of the}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Criminal Procedure Code.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14432343  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
I accept that the Applicant may have an arguable case in the Court of Appeal but for the reasons given above, in relation to the prejudice to the parties if retrial were to commence before the appeal is heard, I find that there
 are no good grounds for stay of the order for retrial.
\par 
\par This application is refused.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 JUDGE}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14432343 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16326800\charrsid14432343 
\par At Suva
\par 28th November 2002
\par }}