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\li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 \fs20\cf1\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 { \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6171920 \par }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 (WESTERN DIVISION}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766 )}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5586009\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8149000 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid12147562 AT LAUTOKA}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid12147562 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8149000\charrsid12147562 APPELLATE JURISDICTION}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid12147562 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8149000 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8149000\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 Civil Appeal No. 11 of 1979 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5586009\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3429522 BETWEEN}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid9918766 HARDEO SINGH}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12147562 }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid12147562 alias SURJAN}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid12147562 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 Appella}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16414130 nt}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3429522 AND}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid16414130 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 PARAS RAM}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12147562 }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid12147562 s/o Ram Dutt \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5586009\charrsid16414130 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 Mr. B.C. Patel for Mr. A. Kuver, Counsel for the Appellant \par Mr. M. Tappoo for Messrs. Vijai Chand & Co., Counsel for the Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8149000 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid16414130 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462\charrsid9918766 JUDGMENT}{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9918766 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9918766\charrsid16414130 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5334462 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462 This is an appeal from the judgment of the magistrate in Sigatoka who found in favour of the respondent/plaintiff in respect of his claim for $204 from the appellant/defendant for tobacco sold and delivered. \par \par The magistrate was not impressed by any of the witnesses who gave evidence before him and based his judgment almost entirely on a document produced by the plaintiff as evidence of a sale to the defendant. \par \par The document has not been challenged by the appellant and both sides in fact say that it supports their version of what happened. \par \par The document, Exhibit A, was drawn up and signed by the appellant and shows two columns of figures t}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10027653 otalled to read 102lbs. and 80l}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462 bs. re} {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 spectively. It is accepted that the tw o columns of figures represent two lots of tobacco. No price is shown on the document, although it seems to be agreed that the price should be $2 a pound, and there is no other writing to show whether either or both columns of figures represent sales or s ale or return transactions. The document is a page in a book containing many entries all of which seem to show purchases or sales of some sort.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5334462 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 \par The respondent said the figures represented two sales of bundles of tobacco to the appellant. It does not appear from the record whether he was asked why, if the sales were made at the same time and at the same price they were shown as two lots, although he did say that the larger quantity was from tobacco left with him by a Fijian who was in his debt. He also said that the smaller quantity was sold first to the appellant, and then he showed the appellant the second lot and asked if he wanted to buy some of that. That might explain the two columns of figures shown on Exhibit A. \par \par The appellant ag}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10027653 reed that he purchased the 80lb}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 . lot of tobacco for $2 a lb., but said that he only agreed to take th}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10027653 e 102}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 lbs. to try to sell it for the plaintiff. \par \par He did, two months later, pay $160 in respect of the first lot of tobacco, but has never paid}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10027653 anything in respect of the 102}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 lb. lot, in fact he returned it to the plaintiff about 15 months later. He never explained why}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid10027653 , if he was only taking the 102}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 lb. lot on a sale or return basis he did not put something on }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022\charrsid2183267 Exhibit A}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022\charrsid2183267 }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341\charrsid2183267 t}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 o show that the two transactions were separate and different.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8072022 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 \par It was argued that the fact there are two lots of figures shown on }{\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341\charrsid2183267 Exhibit A}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341\charrsid2183267 }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 indicates that different conditions applied to the two lots of tobacco and was corroboration of what the defendant said in evidence. \par \par However on balance I would accept the ma gistrate's view that the document, on the face of it, is evidence of a sale of the tobacco to the appellant, particularly since it was written out by the appellant himself who could quite simply have indicated that the two transactions were on different t erms. I accept that}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9203346 this view is more probable than}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 that put forward by the appellant and affords more corroboration for the ver}{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9203346 sion told by the respondent, tha}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 n the version told by the appellant. \par \par Although the magistrate put it rather differently I think that this is the way }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9203346 his }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 finding can and should be explained, and must be the basis for his finding in favour of the respondent. \par \par The appeal was on three grounds. The first ground was not proceeded with, not surprisingly since it was q}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9203346 uite unsupported by the record.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 \par \par The second ground was that the magistrate erred in holding that the oral evidence of the appellant was insufficient in rebut the documentary evidence produced by the respondent when such documentary evidence fully corroborated the appellant's ev idence and cast at least some doubt on the respondent's evidence. There might be some basis for this argument if the document was taken }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid9203346 by }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 itself on the one hand and the appellant's evidence on the other. But if the matter is approached as I have already indicated, the argument fails. \par \par The third ground of appeal is that the magistrate erred in treating the contents of Exhibit A as one transaction whereas the pleadings, evidence and the said exhibit itself clearly showed that they were meant to be two }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546 separa te and distinct dealings. I do not consider that there is any merit in this ground of appeal. The magistrate's judgment clearly shows that he did consider the significance of the columns of figures shown on Exhibit A and could hardly have overlooked this when making his finding.}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1408341 \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546 \par The appellant has shown no good reason for upsetting the magistrate's judgment and the appeal is dismissed with costs. \par }{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546\charrsid8149000 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid202546 {\b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8149000\charrsid8149000 (S}{ \b\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546\charrsid8149000 gd.) G.O.L Dyke \par JUDGE \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid202546 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546 LAUTOKA, \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15664965 {\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12677729 27th}{\fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid202546 September, 1979. }{ \fs24\cf0\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5586009\charrsid15664965 \par }}