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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071\charrsid12911071 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 (AT SUVA)
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 CIVIL APPEAL NO. HBA 25 OF 2001S
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 MOSIO MOSES QASE}{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071\charrsid12911071  }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 HICKS
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 and
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 NAIKANIDEVU SERU
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 Appellants
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 FIJI SUGAR CORPORATION LIMITED
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
\par Seru for the Appellants
\par T. Tuitoga for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 JUDGMENT
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\par The Appellants had worked for the Respondent (the Corporation) for some years when they were given the opportunity to participate in the Cadet Engineers Training Scheme.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 The scheme involves taking a three year course at the Fiji Institute of Technology.
\par 
\par The cost to the Corporation of sending a cadet on this scheme is $24,900 and in order to protect its investment the Corporation requires participants to enter into a bond.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 The bond commits the cadets to repayment of the full sum expended}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 but becomes void upon the completion by the cadets of 5 years service with the Corporation beginning with the end of the 3 year period.
\par 
\par It is not in issue that the bond, a copy of which is at page 38 of the record, was for a 5 year period.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
The only two issues are (i) whether the bond is valid and (ii) whether the five year period is unreasonably long.
\par 
\par As to the validity of the bond Mr. Seru (who filed a helpful written submission) pointed out that a bond is a form of deed and that a deed needs to be sealed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 In his written submission in reply Mr. Tuitoga cited Section 4 of the Property Law Act (Cap 130).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 Under Section 4 (2) \'93sealing of a deed is not necessary except in the case of a deed executed by a corporation under its common or official seal\'94.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 Since however it was the Appellants and not the Corporation who executed the bond it is submitted that no seal was necessary.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 I agree.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
I also take the view that there was in any event good consideration for the agreement reached by the Appellants and the Corporation namely the offer of the opportunity to participate in the scheme.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 This was therefore not a bare deed but was in fact a contract the feature of which it was desired to emphasise was the bond.
\par 
\par As to the period of the bond the Corporation had a practice of taking 5 year bonds.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
Perhaps other organisations such as the Public Service Commission take shorter periods but it is not for this court to alter the terms of a contract freely entered into unless they are wholly unconscionable.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 If the Appellants thought that the five year period was too long then they were free to decline the offer to ta
ke part in the scheme.
\par 
\par The final matter raised by Mr. Seru was Section 32 of the Constitution which grants each person \'93a right to freedom of association\'94.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 In my opinion this constitutional right is not available to prevent repayment of a bond.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 The Appellants had a choice:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
either work for the Corporation as bonded or leave the Corporation and repay the bond.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
They did not, as the Resident Magistrate found,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 have a right to leave without repaying the bond.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
\par 
\par In my opinion the Resident Magistrate (Jiten Singh Esq.) correctly found in favour of the Corporation.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid12911071  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 
The appeal fails and is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12911071 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13264831\charrsid12911071 M.D. Scott
\par Judge
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\par 21 May 2002
\par }}