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CASE NO. HAC0}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 007 OF 2004 \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 BETWEEN: \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 STATE \par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Applicant \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 AND: \par }\pard \s15\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 EMOSI TOLEVU \par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Respondent \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121\charrsid12871121 Hearing: }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 18th March, 2004 \par Ruling:}{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121\charrsid12871121 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 18th March, 2004 \par \par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121\charrsid12871121 Counsel: }{\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Davendra Prasad \endash for the State \par Respondent \endash In Person \par \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 EX}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121\charrsid12871121 }{ \b\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 TEMPORE JUDGMENT \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\f0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par I have before me a notice of motion from the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking an order enlarging the time within which he may lodge a petition of appeal from the decision of the Magistrates Court in Criminal Case No. 644 of 2002. \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par The application is supported by an affidavit which annexes a proposed petition of appeal.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The grounds contained in the appeal are extremely general. \par \par The affidavit contains a sparse timeline of the subject proceedings and appeal.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Primarily the Director relies on the late delivery of the file to his office by the metropolitan police. The file arrived on the 9th of February 2004.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The appeal period expired on the 28th of January 2004. \par \par I have today heard from counsel from his office. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 These matters started with an incident that is said to have occurred on the 21st of September 1999.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Counsel for the Director was unable to assist me with any information concerning a timeline and explanation as to why the matter took from September 1999 until Decem ber of 2003 to be heard.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The Director did not put forward any argument other than the delay not being the fault of his office and what was claimed as the merits of the appeal. \par \par I have to say that these merits were sparsely argued.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Counsel was not familiar with his file.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Counsel claimed that the previous convictions of Mr. Tolevu were relevant.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 He did not then produce a Conviction list.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 However, subsequently in his reply to what Mr. Tolevu had to tell me he then found a Conviction sheet on his file (which I note Mr. Tolevu disputed in any event).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The conviction sheet in my view supports rather than detracts from Mr. Tolevu\rquote s position.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The conviction list is modest, it involves relatively minor offending during the earlier part of Mr. Tolevu\rquote s life.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 The last offence against him being in March 1995 for damaging property.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 He was ordered to pay $70.00 by way of fine.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Counsel advanced no other merits based argument.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 This despite being given extra time to reconsider the file and gather his thoughts. \par \par I then heard from Mr. Tolevu.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 He said that this matter had been worrying him for over 6 years.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 He had tried to have it resolved.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 When he went to Court he went there with 4 witnesses to assist him in his defence.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 He says regrettably three of the witnesses stayed in Court during some of the proceedings and were therefore disqualified from giving evidence on his behalf.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 I take it by way of inference that the learned Magistrate may have had some reluctance in convicting him and that reluctance was displayed in the lenient sentence handed out.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 For the record I note that I prefer the explanation given to me by Mr. Tolevu particularly in the absence of any cogent argument on behalf of the Director before me this afternoon. \par \par I would have given some favourable consideration to the Director\rquote s position were it not for the age of this matter.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 By the time the file reached the Director\rquote s office the appeal period had expired in any event.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Although the period covered by the request for the order enlarging time within which the appeal might be lodged is small, in my view, that request has to be set within the scene of the actual crime and the length of time it took to bring that matter to a proceeding. \par \par It is often said that justice delayed is justice denied.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Mr. Tolevu in a very cogent and powerful way says that he got some final resolution of this matter when the orders were made on the 31st of December last year.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12871121 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 In my view he deserves that finality in his life and the justice of the situation means that on balance it would be unjust to re-open that issue in his life again. \par \par Accordingly I decline the application for the re}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4939101 asons set out in this judgment.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Gerard Winter \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 Judge \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12871121 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9791731\charrsid12871121 \par At Suva \par 18th March, 2004 \par }}