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\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par AT SUVA
\par CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738\charrsid11566738 CRIMINAL CASE NO: HAC0}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 020 OF 2002S
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 STATE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 v.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 ELIKI MOTOTABUA
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par Mr. N. Lajendra for State
\par Accused in Person
\par 
\par Hearing:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 1st April 2004
\par Ruling:}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 1st April 2004
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\b\caps\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Ruling On No Case To Answer
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par The accused submits that there is no case for him to answer on each count of the Information.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
He is charged with abduction, wrongful confinement, and rape on a total of seven counts.
\par 
\par Section 293(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code provides:
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s18\ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid11566738 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 \'93
When the evidence of the wi
tnesses for the prosecution has been concluded, and the statement or evidence (if any) of the accused person before the committing court has been given in evidence, the court, if it considers that there is no evidence that the accused or any one of severa
l accused committed the offence, shall, after hearing, if necessary, any arguments which the barrister and solicitor for the prosecution or the defence may desire to submit, record a finding of not guilty.\'94
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par The test at this stage of the trial is whether, on each count on the Information, there is evidence that the accused committed the offences (}{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Sisa Kalisoqo v. State}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738  Crim. App. No. 52 of 1984, }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 State v. Mosese Tuisawau}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738  Crim. App. No. 14 of 1990).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
If there is some relevant and admissible evidence, direct or circumstantial touching on all the elements of the offences then there is a prima facie case under section 293(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Although the accused referred to the test in }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
Galbraith}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738  (1971) 73 Cr. App. R. 124, that is whether a reasonable tribunal could convict on the prosecution evidence taken at its highest, that test does not apply in the High Court.

\par 
\par The accused submits in this case that the evidence of Mereani Radovu is incapable of belief because she did not escape when she could hav
e, in the four days she spent with him, and because she did not complain about the alleged offences immediately after she left him.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 He further submits that the evidence of other witnesses was unreliable, in particular that of Kalisita Mototabua.
\par 
\par However these are matters of fact for the assessors.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
Evidence has been led not only of a forced abduction from the Nausori bus stand, but also of four days of wrongful confinement and of at least five incidents of rape.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 That evidence came principally from Mereani Radovu herself, but there is also some evidence, capable of affording corroboration as to lack of consent on Counts 1 and 2 from the accused
\rquote s mother Kalesita Mototabua.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 There is also evidence, consistent with Mereani\rquote 
s lack of consent on all counts (although not corroborative) from the doctor and Mereani\rquote s relatives, all of whom spoke of her distress and emotional trauma.
\par 
\par At this stage of the trial, Mereani\rquote s credibility, and the weight to be given to the prosecution case is of little relevance.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Even if there was no corroboration in this case, it would be open to the court to convict in the absence of corroboration, provided Mereani\rquote 
s evidence is both credible and reliable.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 That is the test at the end of the trial.}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Whether or not the prosecution witnesses a
re to be believed, and what weight can be put, for instance on the medical report, is a matter for the assessors.
\par 
\par As for the accused\rquote s submission that the witnesses gave previous inconsistent statements, I can find no significant inconsistency in the statements of Mereani Radovu, the evidence of the \'93uncle\'94 in the accused\rquote 
s house having been elicited under cross-examination.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
In any event the alleged lack of detail in her statement was cross-examined on, just as Kalisita Mototabua gave evidence of her previous statement and the reason for her lack of consistency, and these are matters of fact and weight for the assessors.

\par 
\par At this stage, I consider that there is evidence on each count, to justify putting the accused to his defence.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11566738  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
His application is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 Nazhat Shameem
\par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11566738 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15616138\charrsid11566738 
\par At Suva
\par 1st April 2004
\par }}