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B. Prasad & Sons Ltd v Yoo [2016] FJHC 956; HBC326.2009 (17 October 2016)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI AT SUVA
CIVIL JURISDICTION

Civil Action No. HBC 326 of 2009

BETWEEN:

B.PRASAD & SONS LIMITED

PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

AND:

JOE MYUNG YOO c/- KOREAN MOTORS CO LTD

DEFENDANT

COUNSEL:

Ms. S Narayan for Plaintiff/Applicant

Mr. W. Tabuya for Defendant

DATE OF HEARING: 5 October 2016

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 17 October 2016

JUDGMENT

(Committal Proceedings)

Introduction

1. Pursuant to leave granted on 19 August 2016, Applicant filed Notice of Motion dated 19 August 2016, seeking following Orders:-
   

“a). That Joe Myung Yoo C/- Korean Motors Co Ltd of Lot 8 Jai Hanuman Road, Bhindi Sub-Division, Vatuwaqa, Suva, be committed to prison for the Contempt of Court in failure to comply with order granted by Honorable Mr. Justice Kumar in Court on Thursday, the 31^st Day of March, 2016;

2. b). That Joe Myung Yoo C/- Korean Motors Co Ltd of Lot 8 Jai Hanuman Road, Bhindi Sub-Diidion, Vatuwaqa, Suva do pay the Plaintiff their costs and incidental to this application and the order to be made thereon;

100. That such further or other order may be made as the Court shall think fit.”

(“the Motion”)

2. The Motion was listed to be called on 21 September 2016 when Counsel for the Applicant appeared and Mr P. Patrick appeared on instructions for Respondent and sought an adjournment on the ground that Respondent’s Counsel was away overseas to attend a conference. Respondent failed to appear. The Motion was adjourned to 5 October 2016 for hearing.
   

Background/Undisputed Facts

3. Pursuant to Judgment delivered on 31 March 2016, this Court granted following Orders against the Respondent as Defendant:-
   

“I. Defendant to pay Plaintiff the sum of $66,666.36;

2. Defendant to pay the Plaintiff interest on the sum of $66,666.36 at the rate of 3% per annum from 5^th October 2009 to date of this Judgment.
3. Defendant to pay the Plaintiff costs of this action assessed in the sum of $3,000.00.”
   

4. Respondent so far paid $16,000.00 being legal cost and interest and offered to pay the Judgment sum of $66,666.36 by monthly installments of $750.00.
   
5. Applicant accepted the sum of $16,000.00 paid by the Respondent on without prejudice basis but refused Respondent’s offer to pay the sum $66,666.36 by monthly installments of $750.00.
   
6. The Respondent paid a sum of $3,750.00 into his Solicitors Oceania IP’s Trust Account. Details are as follows:
   

Date Amount

14/6/2016 $ 750.00

1/7/2016 $1,500.00

8/9/2016 $ 750.00

8/9/2016 $ 750.00

$3,750.00

Application for Committal

7. The Orders made by this Court on 31 March 2016 appears at paragraph 3 of this Judgment.
   
8. It is not disputed that the Order was served on the Respondent and he is fully aware of his obligation.
   
9. Order 45 Rule 1(1) of High Court Rule provide as follows:-
   

“Subject to the provisions of these Rules, a judgment or order for the payment of money, not being a judgment or order for the payment of money into court, may be enforced by one or more of the following means, that is to say-

(a) writ of fieri facias;

(b) garnishee proceedings;

(c) a charging order;

(d) the appointment of a receiver;

(e) in a case in which rule 4 applies, an order of committal;

(f) in such a case, writ of sequestration.” (emphasis added)

10. Order 45 Rule 4(1) provides as follows:-
    

“Where -

(a) a person required by a judgment or order to do an act within a time specified in the judgment or order refuses or neglects to do it within that time or, as the case may be, within that time as extended or abridged under Order 3, rule 4, or

(b) a person, disobeys a judgment or order requiring him to abstain from doing an act, then subject to the provisions of these Rules, the judgment or order may be enforced by one or more of the following means, that is to say-

(i) with the leave of the Court, a writ of sequestration against the property of that person;

(ii) where that person is a body corporate, with the leave of the Court, a writ of sequestration against the property of any director or other officer of the body;

(iii) subject to the provisions of the Debtors Act, an order of committal against that person or, where that person is a body corporate, against any such officer.” (emphasis added)

11. Sections 3 and 4 of the Debtors Act provide as follows:-
    

“3. Except as hereinafter in subsequent sections mentioned and except as may be provided by the Magistrates' Courts Act, and by the bankruptcy law in force for the time being no person shall be arrested or imprisoned for making default in payment of a sum of money. But this enactment shall not apply to default- (Cap. 14)

(a) in payof a penalty or sum sum in the nature of a penalty other than a penalty expressly provided for by contract;

(b) in payment of any suoveraule summarily before a magistrate;

(c) by a trustee or person acting in a fiduciary capacity in ng an order of the court for payment of a sum in his possession or under his control;