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{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\author Information Technology Unit}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2005\mo12\dy6\hr13\min44}{\revtim\yr2005\mo12\dy6\hr13\min44}{\printim\yr2004\mo5\dy5\hr15\min12}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages3}{\nofwords780}
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\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 MISCELLANEOUS CASE NO: HAM0}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306\charrsid13573306 0}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 25 OF 2004
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 Between:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 JAMES PRANEEL BAHADUR SINGH
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 Applicant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 And:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306\charrsid13573306 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 THE STATE
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6160587 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
\par Hearing:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 4th May 2004
\par Ruling:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 6th May 2004
\par 
\par Counsel:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 Mr. E. Veretawatini for Applicant
\par Ms K. Bavou for State
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\b\caps\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 Ruling on Bail Pending Appeal
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6160587 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
\par The Applicant was convicted, with two others, on one count of rape, contrary to section 149 of the Penal Code, and one count of wrongful confinement, contrary to section 253 of the Penal Code.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 He was sentenced on the 26th of April 2004 to 5 years imprisonment on each count.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 He now applies for bail pending appeal.
\par 
\par The Applicant was convicted of the rape and wrongful confinement of one Melini Radrodro in December 1997.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
Apparently there was much delay in proceeding to hearing because of the non-appearance of the other accused person.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
The evidence led in court on the 7th of February 2000, was that the victim, who was 18 years old at the time of the offence met the Applicant with two other men on the main road near Visama Village.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }
{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 They were in a van and she was walking with her two sisters on her way back from church.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 They pulled her into the van, took her to the house of one of the other two men and raped her.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 One of the men held a knife and threatened to kill her.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
She later escaped when the accused and the Applicant fell asleep.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 She went home and told her parents what had happened.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 A medical report showed that the victim was distressed and had several injuries around the vagina.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 She was able to walk but with a limp.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 She also had bruises in the chest area.
\par 
\par It appears that she was unshaken in cross-examination.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
However she showed some reluctance to give evidence because she did not want to jeopardise her marriage.
\par 
\par The Applicant\rquote s defence was that the victim was the girlfriend of the first accused and that they were all together in the house of the 1st accused but that he did not have sexual intercourse with her.
\par 
\par The learned Magistrate directed himself as to the ingredients of the offence of rape and as to the need for corroboration.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
He accepted that there was no corroboration of the evidence of the victim, and then summarised the reasons why the corroboration rule in sexual cases was unsatisfactory.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 He then considered the New Zealand and New South Wales statutory provisions abolishing corroboration, and decided that he would consider only the reliability of the victim\rquote 
s evidence.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 He found that he believed her and convicted the accused and the Applicant on both counts.
\par 
\par There are 14 grounds of appeal against these convictions.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
They, in summary, allege that the learned Magistrate should have called for the evidence of the interviews of the Applicant conducted by the police, that he should not have convicted in the absence of corroboration, that the charge
 on Count 2 was defective that the burden to prove innocence was placed on the Applicant, and that the delay of 6 years before trial was a breach of section 29 of the Constitution.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 The grounds of appeal are also that the learned Magistrate failed to properly analyse the evidence and that the sentence was wrong in law on Count 2.
\par 
\par The State opposes this application saying that bail pending appeal should only be granted in exceptional circumstances, that only a few months of imprisonment would have been serve
d when the appeal is heard, and that the appeal was not obviously meritorious.
\par 
\par The principles relevant to this application are whether a substantial portion of the sentence will have been served at the time the appeal is heard, the merit of the appeal and any exceptional grounds justifying bail.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 There is no right to bail pending appeal.
\par 
\par I cannot accept that the appeal is bound to succeed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
Although the form and nature of the corroboration warning in the judgment may be the subject of some argument at the hearing of the appeal, the failure to follow a particular formula is not necessarily fatal.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 (}{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 Mohammed Kasim v. Reginam}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587  22 FLR 120.)}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
Further, vast inroads have now been made into the law of corroboration, not just by legislation such as that referred to by the learned Magistrate, but also by decisions of courts.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 In particular the Supreme Court of Namibia in }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 State v. Katamba}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587  2000 (4) BCLR 405 (NmS) found the rule to indirectly discriminate against women and to be a breach of the Namibian Constitution.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 The Privy Council in }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 R v. Gilbert}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
 (2002) SLRC 606 also abandoned the rule in relation to the law in Grenada.
\par 
\par The necessity and sufficiency of the corroboration warning in this case deserves full argument.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
However the ground of appeal in relation to it does not establish a necessarily meritorious ground of appeal.
\par 
\par Nor do the other grounds of appeal appear to be obviously successful.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
Obviously they will all be fully argued when the court record is made available.
\par 
\par In respect of sentence, the maximum sentence under section 253 of the Penal Code is the same as for kidnapping under section 249, that is 7 years imprisonment.
\par 
\par I find no exceptional grounds to justify a grant of bail in this case.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13573306  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 
By the time the appeal is heard, the Applicant will only have served a few months of his 5 year term.
\par 
\par For these reasons, bail is refused.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13573306 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid13573306 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6160587 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5992821\charrsid6160587 At Suva
\par 6th May 2004
\par }}