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\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\grfdocevents0\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\subfontbysize\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace120\dgvspace120\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow3 \jcompress\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot16403229 \fet0{\*\wgrffmtfilter 013f}\sectd \linex0\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2 \pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6828375\charrsid16335352 REVISIONAL JURISDICTION}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid16335352 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid6828375 Review No. 2 of 1978 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 IN THE MATTER}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4268764 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 of the Criminal Procedure}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12858639 Code}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 AND IN THE MATTER}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4268764 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 of}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6828375 Criminal Case No. 198 of 1978, \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 before the Magistrates Court at Sigatoka \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 REGINAM \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 Complainant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12148890 AND}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 ISIKELI JOJI \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9841051 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4786101 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12148890 ORDER ON}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101\charrsid4786101 REVISION \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5767506 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9841051 On the 16th March 1978 at Sigatoka Magistrates Court the respondent was convicted on his own plea o}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12148890 f arson contrary to section 353}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9841051 (a) of the Penal Code.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4786101 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9841051 \par The facts reveal that the respondent own a modest bamboo and iron house which he occupied with his wife and son. One Sunday evening he was castigated by his wife for drinking, whereupon he removed his wife and son }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 from the house and }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5799701 then }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 set it on fire.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9841051 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 \par The trial Magistrate sentenced the respondent to seven months}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6828375 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 imprisonment, stating }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6828375 "}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 The accused has committed a very serious offence although the house was his own property}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6828375 "}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 . \par \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid421700 However it is not an off ence under section 353 of the Penal Code for a person to set fire to his own property unless he does so unlawfully, that is to say in furtherance of an unlawful purpose, such as an intention thereby to injure any person or commit fraud (}{ \b\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid421700\charrsid421700 R. v. Gulam Rasul & Anor}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid421700 . (1954) 21 E.A.C.A. 229, }{\b\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid421700\charrsid421700 R. v. Cooper}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid421700 (1955) 22 E.A.C.A. 466)}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5076598 .}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10429585 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10374331 \par I might add, parenthetically, that if an accused was charged with setting fire to his own property contrary to section }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3949242 354(b}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15142831 ) of the Penal Code, different considerations would apply in view of its different wording. The unlaw}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16281394 ful nature of the act under the latter section is in setting fire to something so situate that one or other of the types of property enumerated in section 353 of the Penal Code is likely to catch fire from it; so that even though the thing set fire to belonged to the accused, if he intended or foresaw that by so doing the near by property of another was likely to catch fire, he could be convicted.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10374331 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16281394 \par It is clear from the facts of this case that the respondent had no unla wful purpose, and his conduct, while it may be considered reprehensible, is not criminal. In the exercised of the revisional jurisdiction of this Court I accordingly quash the conviction and set aside the sentence. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1459164 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3044334 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1459164\charrsid3044334 (Sgd.) Clifford H. Grant \par Chief Justice \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5767506 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1459164 \par Suva \par 17th April}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12935055 1978.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5767506\charrsid5767506 \par }}