{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};} {\f168\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f169\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f171\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};} {\f172\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f173\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f174\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};} {\f175\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f176\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255; \red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0; \red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{\* \ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid4003472\rsid12013033\rsid13467132\rsid14506544} {\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.6612;}{\info{\title THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\author blake_r}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo10\dy21\hr10\min50}{\revtim\yr2004\mo10\dy21\hr10\min50}{\version2}{\edmins2}{\nofpages1}{\nofwords270}{\nofchars1540} {\*\company USP}{\nofcharsws1807}{\vern16389}}\paperw11904\paperh16834\margl1440\margr1440 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\subfontbysize\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace120\dgvspace120\dghorigin1701 \dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow3\jcompress\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot4003472 \fet0\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\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 THE }{ \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }{\b\caps\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 Appellate Jurisdiction}{\b\caps\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 Criminal Appeal No. 4 of 1978 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 NAVITALAI GUKISUVA}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 Appellant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 v. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 REGINAM}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 JUDGMENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 The appellant was convicted by the Magistrates Court Suva of receiving stolen property contrary to }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 "}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 section 347(1)(a) of the Penal Code and sentenced to}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 9 months }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 imprisonment. }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 The conviction was}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 based on his own plea of guilty. He was unrepresented.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 He appeals against his conviction on the ground that he did not fully understand the nature of the charge and that on the facts admitted by him he could not have been properly convicted of the offence charged. He is represented by counsel before this Cour t.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 At the trial, when asked if he had anything to say to the Court, the appellant said - \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 "}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 I learnt the morning after that the goods were stolen. After that sisters advised me to take articles away before Police came.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 "}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4003472 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 It is not at all clear what the appellant meant by }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 "}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 the morning after}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 "}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 .}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 Did he mean the morning after the theft, or the morning after the receiving? It seems more likely that he meant the latter in which case, a plea o}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472 f}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 not guilty should have been entered and the case tried in the normal way.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4003472\charrsid4003472 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13467132 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid14506544\charrsid4003472 This Court has said several times that where an illiterate unrepresented person pleads guilty to a charge, the trial Court should treat his initial plea as provisional only and defer the final acceptance of the plea until the facts have been fully outline d by the prosecution and admitted by}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 the accused. In this }{ \fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 case, the qualified acceptance of}{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 the facts by the appellant cannot be treated as an unequivocal plea of guilty.}{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 \par }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 \par The appeal is, therefore, allow}{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 ed and the conviction set aside. \par }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 \par The case is remitted to the Magistrates Court for plea to be taken again and }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 the case dealt with }{ \fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 de novo. \par }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13467132 {\b\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 (G. Mishra) \par JUDGE \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13467132 {\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132 \par }{\fs24\expnd0\expndtw2\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13467132\charrsid5047541 Suva, \par 20th January 1978 \par }}