Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Court of Appeal of Fiji

Sorovakatini v State [2014] FJCA 197; AAU0034.2011 (1 December 2014)

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL
[On appeals from the High Court]

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0034 of 2011
[High Court Case No. HAC 116/07]

BETWEEN:

SULIASI SOROVAKATINI
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Appellant in person
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU109 of 2011
[High Court Case No. HAC 144/07]

BETWEEN:

KITIONE ROKOSUKA
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : No appearance for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU121 OF 2011
[High Court Case No. HAC 240/10]

BETWEEN:

SIMIONE SOVUNA RATULEVU
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0094 of 2012
[High Court Case No. HAM 116/07]

BETWEEN:

1. RATU EMORI BOLOBOLO
2. ESIRABARI
3. PENI QUMU
Appellants

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0071 of 2013

BETWEEN:

LOTE SOKOWASA
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0018 of 2014
[Case No. LABASA CF 632/12]

BETWEEN:

ERAMI NAMATOGA
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Appellant in person
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0023 of 2014
[Case No. CF 826/13 EJ]

BETWEEN:

TEVITA GUKIBAU
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0025 of 2014
[High Court Case No. HAC 162/12]

BETWEEN:

SAMUELA KINIBOI
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0029 of 2014
[High Court Case No. HAM 376/13 LTK]

BETWEEN:

VIJENDRA NAIDU
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Mr. S. Sharma for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0047 of 2014
[Case No. CF 323/11]

BETWEEN :

KUNAL EDWIN PRASAD
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Mr. S. Sharma for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0052 of 2014
[High Court Case No. ighHigh HAC 39/12]

BETWEEN:

TALAIASI MUALUVU
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Mr. M. Yunus for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0056 of 2014
[High Court Case No. HAC 55/13]

BETWEEN:

JO SENIVALATI
Appellant
AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Ms N. Nawasaitoga for Appellant
Ms S. Puamau for State

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0096 of 2014
[High Court Case No. HAA015/2014]

BETWEEN:

LEVENI WAITUI
Appellant

AND:

THE STATE
Respondent

Coram : Chandra JA
Guneratne JA
Goundar JA

Counsel : Appellant in person
Ms S. Puamau for State

Date of Hearing : 1 December 2014
Date of Judgment : 1 December 2014

JUDGMENT

[1] These appellants seek leave of the Court to abandon their appeals.

[2] In Jone Masirewa v The State (unreported Criminal Appeal No. CAV0014 of 2008S, 17 August 2010) the Supreme Court explained the procedure for withdrawal of an appeal in detail. The Supreme Court at para [11] pointed out that when the appellant is unrepresented, the Court must proceed with caution and conduct an inquiry "to establish that the decision to withdraw has been made deliberately, intentionally and without mistake".

[3] Some of the appellants in these appeals are represented by counsel and the decisions to withdraw have been made after consultation with legal counsel. In any event, the Court conducted the Masirewa inquiry with each appellant and is satisfied that each appellant's decision to withdraw is informed, deliberate, intentional and without mistake.

Result

[4] Leave granted to each appellant.

[5] The appeals are dismissed.

....................................
Hon. Justice S. Chandra
JUSTICE OF APPEAL

...............................................
Hon. Justice J. Guneratne
JUSTICE OF APPEAL

....................................
Hon. Justice D. Goundar
JUSTICE OF APPEAL