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(}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 \f36\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI \par AT SUVA \par MISCELLANEOUS JURISDICTION \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Crim. Misc. Case No: HAM127 of 2009 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 BETWEEN: \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 JOSEPH NONU \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Appellant \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 AND: \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 THE STATE \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Respondent \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par Hearing:\tab 26th February 2010 \par Judgment:\tab 5th March 2010 \par \par Counsel:\tab Appellant in person \par Mr. K. Waqavonovono for State \par \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 JUDGMENT \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1454827 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par [1]\tab On 23 November 2009, the appellant appeared in the Magistrates\rquote Court, charged with two counts of robbery with violence.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 He allegedly committed the offences with three others, against some of whom there are additional charges of larceny and resisting arrest.}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Bail was refused to all the accused persons upon arraignment. \par \par [2]\tab His subsequent applications for bail were refused.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 He appeals against the refusal of bail.}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 In his submissions, the appellant highlights the relevant principles under the Bail Act. \par \par [3]\tab The appellant submits that there is a presumption in favour of bail because he has not been convicted of the charges and that he is innocent until proven guilty.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 He has no history of breaching bail conditions or absconding bail.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 He is a student at the University of South Pacific and wish to continue with his studies. \par \par [4]\tab The appellant says he has a fixed residential address and is willing to provide an acceptable surety and to report to a police station.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The appellant says he had been in custody for almost four months.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The appellant submits that his incarceration has hindered his ability to prepare a proper defence. \par \par [5]\tab The State submits that the Magistrates\rquote Court was correct to refuse bail to the appellant.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The charges of robbery with violence are very serious, because if convicted, an imprisonment sentence is inevitable.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The complainants are elderly women.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The offences were allegedly committed in a gang and the incidents have instilled fear in the complainants.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 The prosecution case is strong because the appellant has voluntarily confessed to the offences.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Finally, the State submits that the interests of the community to be protected from violence outweigh any personal interests of the appellant to be granted bail to continue his studies. \par \par [6]\tab The refusal of the bail was within the discretion of the Magistrates\rquote Court.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Although the presumption is in favour of grant of bail, the presumption can be rebutted by the party opposing bail.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 In this case, the prosecution opposed bail on the ground of public interests because of the seriousness of the offences and the allegations of use of violence against vulnerable elderly victims.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par \par [7]\tab The appellant, of course, is innocent until proven guilty.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 However, he has confessed to the offences and a confession well proven is the best evidence. The likelihood of the appellant to abscond bail is high due to the strength of the prosecution case and the seriousness of the offences. The time that the appellant had already spent in custody is not unreasonable and the case could be heard this year.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 I am not satisfied that the appellant is impaired in his ability to prepare a defence due to his incarceration. \par \par [8]\tab I am satisfied the Magistrates\rquote Court did not abuse its discretion in refusing bail.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Even if I am to consid er bail afresh, I would refuse bail. \par \par [9]\tab The appeal against refusal of bail is dismissed. The appellant is advised that he has a right of appeal to the Court of Appeal within 30 days from the date of this judgment. \par \par }\pard \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Daniel Goundar \par JUDGE \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10845720 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par At Suva \par 5th March 2010 \par \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 Solicitors:}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10845720\charrsid10845720 \par Appellant in person \par Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for State}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1972231\charrsid10845720 \par }}