Posholi and Others v Posholi (CIV/APN 113 of 90) [1991] LSCA 138 (11 November 1991)

- 4- M u ch w as m a de a b o ut P W 1 's d e l ay in r e p o r t i ng t he i n c i d e n t. It w as p o i n t ed o ut t h at w h i le a d m i t t e d ly h er m o t h er w as n ot a n y w h e re in t he v i c i n i ty h er g r a n d m o t h er on t he c o n t r a ry w a s, n ot o n ly h er b ut s e v e r al o t h er t e n a n ts l i v i ng on t he p r e m i s e s; It w as s u g g e s t ed s he w as f a l s e ly i m p l i c a t i ng h er f a t h er 1n an a t t e m pt to f u r t h er h er m o t h e r 's i n t e r e s ts in a d i v o r ce m a t t er p e n d i ng b e t w e en h er p a r e n ts b e f o re C o u r t. W h i le u s u a l ly t h e re w o u ld be s o me m e r it on t he d e f e n ce c a p i t a l i s i ng on a r a pe v i c t i m 's d e l ay in r e p o r t i ng t he o f f e n ce at t he e a r l i e st p o s s i b le o p p o r t u n i t y, s i g ht s h o u ld n ot be l o st of t he i m p a ct a nd t r a u ma t h at t he a d v e nt of d i v o r ce p r o c e e d i n gs b e t w e en p a r e n ts of a g i rl a g ed 1 4, h a ve on h e r. In my v i ew l a ck of h a r m o ny b e t w e en h er p a r e n ts c o u ld e a s i ly b ar h er f r om r e p o r t i ng the i n c i d e nt to her g r a nd m o t h er in w h om it w as n ot s h o wn to w h at e x t e nt s he c o n f i d e d. M o r e o v er s he h ad s t a t ed u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at s he l o v ed h er f a t h e r. It 1s n ot d i f f i c u lt to r e a l i se t h at s he w as f a c ed w i th a d i l e m ma of r e p o r t i ng a g a i n st s o m e o ne s he l o v ed a nd r e s p e c t ed as a p a r e n t. M o r e o v er s o me f o rm of m o r al p r e s s u re h ad b e en c u n n i n g ly e x e r t ed by t he a p p e l l a nt i m m e d i a t e ly b e f o re t he i n c i d e nt to i n c u l c a te a f e e l i ng of g u i lt in PW1 f or h er r o le in s o u r i ng r e l a t i o ns b e t w e en t he a p p e l l a nt a nd t he M a j a l l es n e xt d o o r. T h e re is t e s t i m o ny to t he e f f e ct t h at PW1 t e l e p h o n ed a c o n f i d a nt of h er m o t h er o ne ' M a r e t h a b i le a b o ut t he i n c i d e nt a nd t he l a t t er in t u rn i n f o r m ed P W3 w ho t o ok s t e ps to e n s u re t h at t he m a t t er w as p r o p e r ly p r e s e n t ed b e f o re t he l a w- e n f o r c e m e nt a u t h o r i t i e s. M u ch w as a l so m a de of t he f a ct t h at a l t h o u gh s he w as / o n ly -5- o n ly 14 y e a rs o ld w h en t he a l l e g ed r a pe t o ok p l a ce on h er s he h ad h ad p r e v i o us s e x u al r e l a t i o ns w i th s o m e o ne e l s e. W h i le t h is a r g u m e nt m ay go t o w a r ds d i s c r e d i t i ng t he v i c t im of r a pe as of l ow m o r al c h a r a c t e r, t he l aw p r o t e c ts e v en p r o s t i t u t es a g a i n st v i o l e nt c r i m es of s e x u al n a t u r e. T he C r o wn s u m m ed up t he f a c ts a nd l aw p e r t a i n i ng to t h is c a se as f o l l o ws :- t h at it is c o m m on c a u se ( a) t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt w as e x a m i n ed by a d o c t or t wo d a ys a f t er t he a l l e g ed r a pe ( b) t h at t he r e s u l ts of t h is e x a m i n a t i on w e re n ot c o n c l u s i ve on w h e t h er t h e re h ad b e en s e x u al i n t e r c o u r se or r a pe ( c) t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt h ad h ad s e x u al p r i or to t he i n c i d e nt r e l a t i o ns ( d) t h at t he C r o wn r e l i ed s o l e ly on t he c o m p l a i n a n t 's t e s t i m o ny as to t he s e x u al a s s a u lt ( e) t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt w as a g i rl of t e n d er a ge at t he t i me of t he i n c i d e n t. h er a ge at t he t i m e. 14 y e a rs is g i v en as T he C o u rt w as a s k ed to d e t e r m i ne w h e t h er or n ot t he C o u rt b e l ow a p p l i ed t he c a u t i o n a ry r u le to t he f a c ts of t he c a se as r e q u i r ed by t he L a w. In p a r e n t h e s is it s h o u ld be o b s e r v ed t h at t he f i r st g r o u nd of a p p e al is t h at t he C o u rt b e l ow e r r ed in c o n v i c t i ng on t he u n c o r r o b o r a t ed e v i d e n ce of t he c o m p l a i n a n t. T h is C o u rt r e l y i ng on A p p. C a se N o . 5 6 / 84 D i c ks V i l a k a ti vs R e g i na S w a z i l a nd C o u rt of A p p e al d e c i s i on ( u r i r e p o r t e d) at 5 h as r e p e a t e d ly s t a t ed t h at * " T h e re is no r u le of law r e q u i r i ng c o r r o b o r a t i on of t he c o m p l a i n a n t 's e v i d e n ce in a c a se s u ch as t he p r e s e nt o ne b ut t h e re is a w e l l - e s t a b l i s h ed c a u t i o n a ry r u le of p r a c t i ce in r e g a rd to / c o m p l a i n a n ts - 8- in s e x u al c a s es in. t e r ms of c o m p l a i n a nt w h i ch a t r i al c o u rt m u st w a rn i s e lf of t he d a n g e rs in t h e ir e v i d e n ce and a c c o r d i n g l y, s h o u ld look f or c o r r o b o r a t i on of all t he e s s e n t i al e l e m e n ts of t he o f f e n c e. T h u s, in a c a se of r a p e, t he t r i al c o u rt s h o u ld l o ok f or c o r r o b o r a t i on of t he e v i d e n ce of i n t e r- c o u r se i t s e l f, t he l a ck of c o n s e nt a l l e g ed a nd t he i d e n t i ty of t he a l l e g ed o f f e n d e r. or all of t h e se e l e m e n ts a re u n c o r r o b o r a t ed t he c o u rt m u st w a rn i t s e lf of t he d a n g er of c o n v i c t i ng a n d, in s u ch c i r c u m s t a n c e s, it w i ll o n ly c o n v i s t. if a c c e p t a b le a nd r e l i a b le e v i d e n ce e x i s ts to s h ow t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt is a c r e d i b le or t r u s t- w o r t hy w i t n e s s ". If a ny I n d e ed R v. W 1 9 4 9 ( 3) SA 7 72 at 7 8 0 ( A D) suras up t he l aw c r i s p ly as f o l l o ws : "In c r i m i n al c a s es of s e x u al a s s a u l t s, it is n ot n e c e s s a ry t h at t he c o m p l a i n a n t 's e v i d e n ce be c o r r o b o r a t ed b ut s u ch e v i d e n ce r e q u i r es a s p e c i al a p p r o a ch of c a u t i on and c a r e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. In r a pe c a s e s, f or . i n s t a n c e, t he e s t a b l i s h ed and p r o p er p r a c t i ce is n ot to r e q u i re t he c o m p l a i n a n t 's e v i d e n ce to be c o r r o b o r a t ed b e f o re a c o n v i c t i on is c o m p e t e nt ......... W h at is r e q u i r ed is t h at t he t r i er of f a ct s h o u ld h a ve c l e a r l y, in m i nd t h at c a s es of a s s a u l ts r e q u i re s p e c i al t r e a t m e n t, t h at c h a r g es of t he k i nd a re g e n e r a l ly d i f f i c u lt to d i s p r o v e, a nd t h at v a r i o us c o n s i d e r a t i o ns m ay l e ad to t h e ir b e i ng f a l s e ly l a i d ". T he L e a r n ed W a t e r m e y er C . J. w e nt on to s ay :- " T he p o s i t i on 1s n ot m a t e r i a l ly d i f f e r e nt f r om t h at c r e a t ed by t he c a u t i o n a ry r u le a p p l i c a b le in t he c a se of a c c o m p l i c es w h i ch w as r e c e n t ly d e a lt w i th by t h is c o u rt in R. vs N c a n a na 1 9 4 8 ( 4) SA 3 0 9 ". L e a r n ed C o u n s el f or t he C r o wn r e f e r r ed me to / M a l e f e t s a ne - 7- Malefetsane Mabope and Others v Rex C. of A. ( C R I) N o .5 of 1 9 86 ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 43 to 44 w h e re in a p p r o v i ng an e x t r a ct f r om S. vs H l a g e z u la and O t h e rs 1 9 6 5 ( 4) SA it w as s a id :- " t h e re h as g r o wn up a c a u t i o n a ry r u le of p r a c t i ce r e q u i r i ng ( a) r e c o g n i t i on by t he t r i al c o u rt of t he f o r e g o i ng d a n g e r s, a nd ( b) t he s a f e- g u a rd of s o me f a c t or r e d u c i ng t he r i sk of a w r o ng c o n v i c t i o n, s u ch as c o r r o b o r a t i on i m p l i c a t i ng t he a c c u s ed in t he c o m m i s s i on of t he o f f e n c e, or t he a b s e n ce of g a i n s a y i ng e v i d e n ce f r om h im or h is m e n d a c i ty as a w i t n e ss or t he i m p l i c a t i on by t he a c c o m p l i ce of s o m e o ne n e ar and d e ar to h i m ". T he r e q u i r e m e nt in V i l a k a ti a b o ve t h at t h e re be c o r r o b o r a t i on of i n t e r c o u r se i t s e lf h as n ot b e en s a t i s f i e d. But t h at c a n n ot be t he e nd of t he m a t t er f or t h at w o r t hy a u t h o r i ty s t a t es in t he a b s e n ce of s u ch c o r r o b o r a t i on t he C o u rt h a v i ng w a r n ed i t s e lf of i n h e r e nt d a n g e rs of c o n v i c t i ng s h o u ld o n ly do so if r e l i a b le and a c c e p t a b le e v i d e n ce e x i s ts to s h ow t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt is a c r e d i b le and t r u s t w o r t hy w i t n e s s. It a p p e a rs t h at in t he l e a r n ed M a g i s t r a t e 's v i ew t h is w as s a t i s f i e d. H e n ce t he c o n v i c t i o n. B ut t he C r o wn w h i ch had had t he b e n e f it of a p p e a r i ng b o th in t he C o u rt b e l ow a nd in t h is C o u rt r e p r e s e n t ed by M r. T h e t s a ne f e lt that. d e s p i te a b le and i n s t r u c t i ve j u d i c i al a u t h o r i t i es c i t ed by t he C r o wn t he l e a r n ed M a g i s t r a te a p p e a r ed n ot to h a ve a p p r o a c h ed t he e n t i re e v i d e n ce w i th c a u t i on and c a re as r e q u i r ed by t he l aw in h is j u d g m e n t. T he C r o wn f u r t h er s u b m i t t ed t h at t he l e a r n ed t he Magistrate o v e r l o o k e d / t i m e - h o n o u r ed s a f e g u a r ds o u t l i n ed in a g e - o ld and d e p e n d a b le f u nd of j u d i c i al e x p e r i e n ce a nd a u t h o r i t y; t h us p a id s c a nt a t t e n t i on to t h e ir m e s s a ge d e s p i te t he n a t u re of t he c a se b e f o re h i m. / L e a r n ed - 8- L e a r n ed Counsel r e f e r r ed me to L e b e se vs Rex 1976 LLR 187 at 188 w h e re C o t r an C. J. as he t h en w as said : "While t h e re is no need for c o r r o b o r a t i on of c o m p l a i n a n t 's t e s t i m o ny it is i n c u m b e nt upon t he m a g i s t r a te (a) to look into the e v i d e n ce to see if t h e re are i n d i c e s, apart f r om her s t a t e m e n t, that give t he t r u th of her a l l e g a t i o n s, c o n f i d e n ce about (b) he should w a rn h i m s e lf about t he d a n g e rs i n h e r e nt in a c c e p t i n g, in sexual o f f e n c e s, the t e s t i m o ny of one w i t n e ss s t a n d i ng on its o w n ". T he C r o wn f u r t h er c r i t i c i s ed t he l e a r n ed M a g i s t r a t e 's a t t i t u de that the e v i d e n ce of P W2 and PW3 c o r r o b o r a te the f a ct that the c o m p l a i n a nt w as in f a ct r a p e d. Yet t h e re is a u t h o r i ty that in sexual c a s es the c o m p l a i nt m a de by t he v i c t im to t he f i r st p e r s on she m e e ts after t he o f f e n ce is not c o r r o b o r a t i on r e q u i r ed by the L a w. S ee 1. Seeiso Kao vs Rex 1 9 8 0 ( 2) LLR 307 2. Ralinko M a t o o a ne vs Rex C R I / A / 7 0 / 84 ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 2. T he C r o wn f u r t h er a s s u r ed t he C o u rt t h at it is mindful of the authority in Kalebe Molapo vs Rex CRI/A/27/86 ( u n r e p o r t e d) at 7 w h e re it w as s a id t he a p p e l l a te c o u rt if s a t i s f i ed t h at t he l e a r n ed t r i al m a g i s t r a te s c r u t i n i s ed t he e v i d e n ce a nd s a t i s f i ed h i m s e lf a g a i n st a ny c o n s c i o us or u n c o n s c i o us f a b r i c a t i on h is c o n v i c t i on of t he a p p e l l a nt he c a n n ot be f a u l t ed by t he a p p e l l a te c o u r t. I am at p a i ns h o w e v er to c o n s i d er w h e t h er t h is g e n e r al s t a t e m e nt w as m e a nt to a p p ly to a ll c r i m i n al a p p e a ls i n c l u d i ng t h o se r e l a t i ng to s e x u al o f f e n c e s. H o w e v er I de e i m m e d i a te s o l a ce f r om t he w o r ds / of - 9- of L e w is A . J . A. in R vs J 1966(l) SA at 90 t h at : " w h i le t h e re is a l w a ys t he n e ed f or s p e c i al c a u t i on in s c r u t i n i s i ng and w e i g h i ng t he e v i d e n ce of y o u ng c h i l d r en ( e n d) c o m p l a i n a n ts in s e x u al c a s es s h o u ld n ot be a l l o w ed to d i s p l a ce t he e x e r c i se of c o m m on s e n s e ". t he e x e r c i se of c a u t i on T h us in a p r o p er c a se a j u d i c i al o f f i c er 1f s a t i s f i ed t h at s a fe and a c c e p t a b le e v i d e n ce p r o v i ng t he g u i lt h as b e en a d d u c ed he s h o u ld n ot a l l ow h is J u d g m e nt to be s w a y ed by f a n c i f ul and u n r e a l i s t ic f e a r s. S ee R . vs J a b o ve at 9 0. I w o u ld r e a d i ly a c c e pt t h at t he f a ct t h at m e d i c al e v i d e n ce is n ot c o n c l u s i ve c a n n o t, d o es n ot end s h o u ld n ot a l w a ys e x o n e r a te an a c c u s e d. S ee M o n t o e li vs Rex C R I / A / 3 0 / 84 ( u n r e p o r t e d ). T he C r o wn s u b m i t t ed t h at n o t h i ng in t he J u d g m e nt of t he C o u rt b e l ow s h o ws t h at t h e re w as a ny e x e r c i se of t he n e c e s s a ry c a u t i on b e f o re c o n v i c t i o n. T he C r o wn d e m u r r ed at t he f a ct t h at t he e v i d e n ce led by t he p r o s e c u t i o n, t h o u gh r e v e a l i ng t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt w as r a p ed w o u ld n o n e t h e l e ss be f o r e d o o m ed by t he M a g i s t r a t e 's f a i l u re to e x e r c i se p r o p er c a u t i on and c o n s e q u e n t ly lead to a g u i l ty p e r s on b e i ng f r e e d. T h is C o u rt h as h ad c o n s i d e r a t i on of t he f a ct t h at n r o p er e x e r c i se of c a u t i on s h o u ld n ot o n ly h a ve b e en e x e r c i s ed b ut s e en to h a ve b e en e x e r c i s ed r e g a rd b e i ng had to t he f a ct t h at b o th PW1 and P W2 a re c h i l d r en of t e n d er a g e. S ee R.vs M a n da 1 9 5 1 ( 3) SA 1 58 A D. The C r o wn h as s u b m i t t ed t h at t he b o dy of e v i d e n ce knows c l e a r ly t h at t he c o m p l a i n a nt w as s e x u a l ly a s s a u l t e d. / A d d i ng - 1 0- A d d i ng my v o i ce to t h is I w o u ld s ay it w o u ld be m o st i m p r u d e nt of t he a c c u s ed t h at b e c a u se t he M a g i s t r a te f a i l ed to t r e at t he e v i d e n ce c a r e f u l ly he s h o u ld r e g a rd h is d a u g h t e r 's c o m p l a i nt as b a s e l e s s. T he C o u rt m u st a l so n o te i ts d i s p l e a s u re t h at t he o r i g i n al m a n u s c r i pt is m i s s i ng f r om t he C o u rt r e c o r d s. In f a ct I am m a de to u n d e r s t a nd t h at w h a t e v er r e c o rd h as b e en l a id b e f o re C o u rt is o n ly t h a n ks to t he a p p e l l a n t 's c o u n s e l. T he C r o wn a l so s u p p o r t ed c o u n s el f or t he a p p e l l a nt in an o b s e r v a t i on t h at s o me m a t t er a p p e a r i ng on t he r e c o rd w as n e v er c a n v a s s ed b e f o re t he C o u rt b e l o w. T h is w as a s c r i b ed in p a rt to w r i t i ng q u e s t i o ns in t e l e g r a p h ic f o r m. B ut in my e x p e r i e n ce t h is m ay be an e f f e c t i ve f o rm of k e e p i ng up w i th t he f l ow of t he c r o s s - e x a m i n e r 's q u e s t i o ns a nd h as t he v a r y i ng a nd q u a l i f i ed m e r it of p r e v e n t i n g / a n s w e rs to t he s a me q u e s t i o n. B ut t he d a n g er is if t he s e n se of t he q u e s t i on is l o st in t he m a g i s t r a t e 's e f f o rt to a b b r e v i a te it in o r d er to c o pe w i th k e e p i ng p a ce w i th t he c r o s s - e x a m i n e r 's s p e ed in p u t t i ng q u e s t i o n s. T h is i n d e ed r e q u i r es s k i l l. To a c q u i re s k i ll n e e ds p r a c t i c e. W i t h o ut p r a c t i ce m i s t a k es c an h a r d ly be a v o i d e d. In m o t i v a t i ng h is o b j e c t i on to t h i n gs n e v er c a n v a s s ed in e v i d e n ce b ut n o n e t h e l e ss a p p e a r i ng in the Magistrate's Judgment t he a p p e l l a n t 's C o u n s el p o i n t ed o ut ( a nd w as f u l ly s u p p o r t ed by C o u n s el f or t he C r o w n) t h at at p a ge 3 of t he r e c o rd PW1 s a id w h en r e t u r n i ng to t he s i t t i ng r o om s he g a ve P W2 a r e p o r t. P W2 c o n f i r ms t h is at p a ge 9. B ut e v en t h o u gh t he w i t n e ss n e v er s t a t ed w h at part w as g i v e n, t he l e a r n ed M a g i s t r a te in h is J u d g m e nt at page 27 of t he r e c o rd h as r e c o r d ed t h at PW1 t o ld P W2 t h at " h er f a t h er w as h a v i ng s ex r e l a t i o ns w i th h e r ". / T he - 1 1- T he r e c o rd a m p ly s h o ws t h e re is m e r it in t h is o b j e c t i o n. I m ay e v en 90 f u r t h er e nd s ay a l t h o u gh r e f e r e n ce h as b e en m a de in t he r e c o rd to a l e t t er t a k en by t he c o m p l a i n a nt to M a j a l l e 's h o me w r i t t en to M a j a l le by t he a p p e l l a n t 's s e r v a n t, t he l e a r n ed M a g i s t r a te r e f e r r ed to t h is s e r v a nt as M a j a l l e 's c o n c u b i ne y et n o w h e re in t he r e c o rd h as it b e en s u g g e s t ed t h at t h is s e r v a nt w as M a j a l l e 's c o n c u b i n e. T he r e c o rd m e r e ly s h o ws at p a ge 5 as f o l l o ws : " H ow w as it s a id y ou w e re i n v o l v ed in M a j a l l e 's q u a r r e l? I h ad g i v en a l e t t er f r om o ur d o m e s t ic to M r. M a j a l l e ." s e r v a nt T he a p p e l l a nt m ay c o u nt h i m s e lf f o r t u n a te t h at on a m e re t e c h n i c a l i ty he s h o u ld e s c a pe l i a b i l i ty f or h is n a u s e a t i ng a c t s. A p p e al u p h e l d. J U D GE 1 1 th N o v e m b e r, 1 9 91 F or A p p e l l a nt : M r. M a t e te F or R e s p o n d e n t: M r. T h e t s a ne C I V / A P N / 1 1 3 / 90 IN T HE HIGH C O U RT OF LESOTHO In t he A p p l i c a t i on of : L I B E N Y A NE P O S H O LI A p p l i c a nt v M O S H O E S H OE P O S H O LI & 2 O RS R e s p o n d e n ts J U D G M E NT Delivered by the Hon. Mr. Justice M. L. Lehohla on t he 1 1 th d ay of N o v e m b e r, 1991 On May 1 s t, 1 9 90 t he a p p l i c a nt f i l ed an a p p l i c a t i on on n o t i ce a g a i n st t he r e s p o n d e n ts f or an O r d er : 1. 2. r e v i e w i ng a nd s e t t i ng a s i de p r o c e e d i n gs in CC 8 6 / 89 f r om t he T e y a t e y a n e ng M a g i s t r a t e 's C o u r t, p a r t i c u l a r ly t he d e c i s i on by t he 2 nd r e s p o n d e nt d a t ed 2 4 - 1 1 - 1 9 3 9; d i r e c t i ng t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt to p ay t he c o s ts in a ny e v e nt b ut so s h o u ld t he 2 nd a nd 3 rd r e s p o n d e n ts in t he e v e nt of t h e ir o p p o s i t i on to t he a p p l i c a t i o n; 3. g r a n t i ng t he a p p l i c a nt a ny f u r t h er a n d / or a l t e r n a t i ve r e l i e f. T he 2 nd a nd 3 rd r e s p o n d e n ts a re t he TY M a g i s t r a te and t he A t t o r n e y - G e n e r al r e s p e c t i v e l y. T he a p p l i c a nt w ho a v e rs t h at he is an i l l i t e r a te / s t a t es - 2- s t a t es in an a f f i d a v it b e f o re t h is C o u rt t h at CC 8 5 / 89 w as a c a se p r e s i d ed o v er by t he 2 nd r e s p o n d e n t. In t h at m a t t er t he a p p l i c a nt w as r e s p o n d e nt a nd t he 1 st r e s p o n d e nt a p p l i c a n t. T he a p p l i c a nt f u r t h er a v e rs t h at in N o v e m b er 1 5 8S he r e c e i v ed a N o t i ce of M o t i on t o g e t h er w i th a f f i d a v i ts in t he c i v il m a t t er m a r k ed CC 8 6 / 8 9. In t h at m a t t er t he 1 st r e s p o n d e nt w as a p p l y i ng f or a r e v i ew of p r o c e e d i n gs w h i ch h ad e m a n a t ed f r om t he L o c al C o u rt a nd h ad r e a c h ed t he C e n t r al C o u rt s t a g e. T he g r o u n ds f or r e v i ew by t he 1 st r e s p o n d e nt w e re t h at t he p r o c e e d i n gs up to t h at s t a ge w e re i r r e g u l ar in t h at it h ad b e en c l e ar to t he p r e s i d i ng o f f i c er t h at t he 1 st r e s p o n d e nt h ad no i n t e r e st in t he m a t t er i . e. a d i s p u t ed f i e l d, he b e i ng a m e re a g e nt of R o b e rt P o s h o li w ho h ad t e s t i f i ed t h at he h ad t he r i g ht to p l o u gh t he f i e l d. A f u r t h er g r o u nd of r e v i ew w as t h at R o b e rt P o s h o li s h o u ld h a ve b e en j o i n e d. T h is in a n u t - s h e ll w as a m a t t er p r e s e n t ed b e f o re t he M a g i s t r a t e 's C o u rt f or r e v i e w. T he p r e s e nt a p p l i c a nt f u r t h er a v e rs in an a f f i d a v it b e f o re t h is C o u rt t h at h a v i ng r e c e i v ed t he N o t i ce of M o t i on a nd on b e i ng s e r v ed w i th p a p e rs m a r k ed " A A" he w as t o ld by t he C o u rt M e s s e n g er t h at he w as r e q u i r ed to a p p e ar in t he M a g i s t r a t e 's C o u rt on 2 3 rd N o v e m b e r, 1 9 8 9. T he a p p l i c a nt d u ly a p p e a r ed b e f o re t h at C o u rt on t h at d ay h a v i ng f e lt t h at t he M e s s e n g e r 's i n f o r m a t i on to h im w a r r a n t ed t he a t t e n t i on t h at t he a p p l i c a nt g a ve t he m a t t e r. On t he d ay in q u e s t i on t he a p p l i c a nt w as i n f o r m ed / t h at - 3- t h at as t he 1st r e s p o n d e n t 's a t t o r n ey w as e n g a g ed e l s e w h e re t he m a t t er w o u ld n ot p r o c e ed b ut s h o u l d r a t h er do so t he f o l l o w i ng d ay i . e. 2 4 th N o v e m b e r, 1 9 8 9. On t h is l a t t er d ay t he a p p l i c a nt r e p o r t ed at C o u rt as d id t he 1 st r e s p o n d e n t 's a t t o r n e y. T he a p p l i c a nt a v e rs at p a ra 10 as f o l l o ws " My o wn l a w y er h o w e v er d id n ot t u rn u p ". T he a p p l i c a nt a v e rs t h at w h en t he m a t t er r e s u m ed on t h at d ay i . e. 2 4 th N o v e m b e r, 1 9 89 he i n d i c a t ed to t he C o u rt t h at he h ad e n g a g ed a l a w y er w ho h ad n ot y et a r r i v e d. He f u r t h er a v e rs t h at t he C o u rt d e c i d ed n e v e r t h e l e ss to p r o c e ed r e g a r d l e ss of h is l a w y e r 's a b s e n c e. T h us he c o m p l a i ns t h at he w as n ot a f f o r d ed an o p p o r t u n i ty to e v en c o n t a ct h is l a w y e r. T he a p p l i c a nt a v e rs t h at t he 2 nd r e s p o n d e nt i n f o r m ed h im of h is d e c i s i on t h at t he m a t t er b r o u g ht on r e v i ew b e f o re h im w as to s t a rt de n o vo at t he L o c a l. C o u r t. T he a p p l i c a nt a p p r o a c h ed c o u n s el w ho f o u nd it i n c o n c e i v a b le t h at a m a t t er p u r p o r t e d ly s et d o wn f or h e a r i ng e x - p a r te c o u ld be f o l l o w ed by a f i n al o r d er on t he s a me d ay of i ts b e i ng h e a rd w i t h o ut a ny r e t u rn d a te b e i ng f i x ed in o r d er to e n a b le t he o p p o s i ng p a r ty if he so w i s h e s, to p r e p a re a nd f i le h is d e f e n c e. T he a p p l i c a nt f u r t h er c o n t e n ds t h at t he r e v i e w i ng C o u rt b e l ow g r a n t ed t he a p p l i c a t i on in e r r or as t he g r o u n ds a d v a n c ed by t he 1 st r e s p o n d e nt d id n ot w a r r a nt an a p p l i c a t i on f or r e v i e w; b ut t h at t he i s s ue s h o u ld r a t h er h a ve b e en r e s o l v ed by w ay of a p p e al to t he J u d i c i al C o m m i s s i o n e r 's C o u rt as a m a t t er of c o u r s e. It is f u r t h er a v e r r ed on o a th by t he a p p l i c a nt t h at / t he - 4- t he M a g i s t r a t e 's C o u rt f a i l ed to a d d r e ss i ts m i nd to t he f a ct t h at t he a p p l i c a nt h ad b e en s e r v ed w i th a N o t i ce of A p p l i c a t i on ( A n n e x u re " A A ") i n d i c a t i ng t h at t he f i r st r e s p o n d e nt w as g o i ng to a p p ly f or a R u le N i si on 2 3 rd N o v e m b e r, 1 9 8 9. H ad t he C o u rt n ot so f a i l e d, it w as c o n t e n d e d, t h en it w o u ld n ot h a ve c o n f i r m ed t he r u le as it d i d. F u r t h er t h at t he a p p l i c a nt s a ys he w as m i s l ed b e c a u se " A A" d id n ot i n d i c a te t h at 2 3 rd N o v e m b e r, 1 9 89 w as n ot j u st t he d ay w h en t he i n t e r im o r d er w as to be i s s u ed b ut r a t h er t he f i n al o ne t h o u gh on t he f a ce of it it d id n ot s u p p o rt a ny p r e s u p p o s i t i on t h at an i n t e r im o r d er h ad b e en g r a n t ed on 2 3 rd J u n e, 1 9 8 9; m o re e s p e c i a l ly t h at no C o u rt O r d er a c c o m p a n i ed A n n e x u re " A A" at t he t i me t he l a t t er w as s e r v ed on t he a p p l i c a n t. T he a p p l i c a nt a v e rs t h at he w as s e r v ed w i th t he f i n al o r d er on 5 th J a n u a ry 1 9 90 w r i t t en 1 9 8 9. T he O r d er is a t t a c h ed to t he p a p e rs and is m a r k ed " B B ". S i g n i f i c a n t ly t h is l a st a v e r m e nt by t he a p p l i c a nt h as n ot b e en g a i n s a i d. I h a ve p e r u s ed t he S u b o r d i n a te C o u r t 's r e c o rd a nd h a ve d i s c o v e r ed t h at t he o r i g i n al C o u rt O r d er w as i s s u ed on 2 9 th N o v e m b er 1 9 89 a nd at t he b a ck b e a rs t he d a te 0 5 - 0 1 - 1 9 90 b e l ow w h i ch is w r i t t en a nd s i g n ed t he n a m es L i b e n y a ne P o s h o l i. In f a ct t wo c o p i es of t he m e s s e n g e r 's r e t u r ns r e l a t i ng to s e r v i ce of N o t i ce of A p p l i c a t i on f or R e v i ew s h ow t h at s u ch s e r v i ce w as e f f e c t ed on 2 nd N o v e m b er 19.89. N o ne of t h em r e f e rs to t he C o u rt O r d e r. T he o ne t h at r e f e rs to t he C o u rt O r d er c l e a r ly s h o ws t h at it w as s e r v ed cm 5 th J a n u a r y, 1 9 9 0, In i ts t e r ms t h is C o u rt O r d er is f i n a l. T he p r o p er p r o c e d u re w o u ld h a ve r e q u i r ed it n ot o n ly to be i n t e r im b ut t h at it be s e r v ed t o g e t h er w i th t he o r i g i n a t i ng p a p e r s. T he o r i g i n a t i ng p a p e rs w e re m i s l e a d i ng a nd m a k i ng it a p p e ar t h at the ex-parte a p p l i c a t i on w as o n ly g o i ng to be m o v ed on / 2 3 rd N o v e m b er - 5- 2 3 rd N o v e m b er 1 9 89 f or t he f i r st t i me w h e r e as t he c a l e n d er of t he c a se i n d i c a t es on f i le c o v er t h at t he a p p l i c a t i on w as m o v ed f or t he f i r st t i me on 2 3 - 6 - 32 a nd p o s t p o n ed s e v e r al t i m es t h e r e a f t e r. It d o es n ot s e em to me t h at in t he f a ce of t he f a ct t h at o r i g i n a t i ng p a p e rs r e f l e c t ed t he h a nd w r i t t en 2 3 - 1 1 - 89 as o p p o s ed to t he s t r u ck o ut 2 3 - 8 - 89 t he a p p l i c a nt a nd h is c o u n s el c o u ld be f a u l t ed f or g a i n i ng t he i m p r e s s i on f r om t he N o t i ce of A p p l i c a t i on t h at t he e x - p a r te a p p l i c a t i on w as d ue f or m o t i on on 2 3 - 1 1 - 89 in w h i ch c a se an i n t e r im o r d er s e t t i ng o ut t he r e t u rn d a t es w o u ld f o l l ow a f t e r w a r d s. T he t wo p a g ed i n c o m p l e te r e c o rd h as n ot c o v e r ed t he S u b o r d i n a te C o u r t 's m i n u t e s. N o ne of t he p a r t i es is to b l a me f or t h a t. It w as t he S u b o r d i n a te C o u r t 's b u s i n e ss to e n s u re t h at a c o m p l e te r e c o rd is f u r n i s h ed as o r d e r ed by t h is C o u rt on 7- 3- 9 1. T h is C o u rt c a n n ot a l l ow t he e f f e ct of t he i n c o m p l e te r e c o rd to p r e j u d i ce t he a p p l i c a nt w ho r e l i ed on it in p a r t. T h e re a re a n u m b er of d i s t u r b i ng f e a t u r es in t he m a n n er p r o c e e d i n gs w e re c o n d u c t ed in t he M a g i s t r a t e 's C o u r t. It s e e ms t h at s c a nt a t t e n t i on w as g i v en to t he f a ct t h at t he a p p l i c a nt t h o u gh in a t t e n d a n ce w as a l a y m an w ho n o n e t h e l e ss h ad i n d i c a t ed to t he C o u rt t h at he h ad e n g a g ed a l a w y e r. S ee p a ge 6 p a ra 11 r e ad w i th p a ge 24 p a ra 6. I d o n 't t h i nk it m a k es g o od s e n se t h at e v en t h o u gh a l a y m an t e l ls t he C o u rt t h at he h as e n g a g ed a l a w y er t he C o u rt s h o u ld a d o pt t he a t t i t u de t h at it d o es n ot b e l i e ve h im w i t h o ut g i v i ng t h at l a y m an an o p p o r t u n i ty to p r o ve h is s t a t e m e nt a nd i n s t e ad g r a nt a nd c o n f i rm t he so c a l l ed i n t e r im o r d er w h i ch n e v e r, as it s h o u ld h a v e, a c c o m p a n i ed t he o r i g i n a t i ng p a p e rs f or s e r v i ce / on - 8- on t he p a r ty in q u e s t i o n. A n o t h er d i s t u r b i ng f e a t u re is t he f a ct t h at a m a j or a l t e r a t i on of t he d a te of h e a r i ng w as e f f e c t ed w i t h o ut a ny i n i t i a l l i ng by a ny o f f i c er w ho e f f e c t ed i t. It is a l so d i s t u r b i ng t h at s e r v i ce of C o u rt p r o c e ss w h i ch s h o u ld h a ve b e en e f f e c t ed a ll at o n ce w as i n s t e ad d o ne p i e c e m e a l. It w as i n e x u s a b ly w r o ng t h at a f i n al o r d er s h o u ld h a ve b e en g r a n t ed w i t h o ut t h e re h a v i ng b e en s e r v i ce of an i n t e r im o r d er on t he p a r ty i n v o l v e d. T he f a ct t h at t he C o u r t 's m i n u t es m ay r e f l e ct t h at he w as t o ld in b r o ad t e r ms t he c o n t e n ts of t he i n t e r im o r d er is no s u b s t i t u te f or e f f e c t i ng s e r v i ce of t he i n t e r im o r d er on t he p a r ty c o n c e r n e d. L et a l o ne t h at no i n d i c a t i on e x i s ts to show t h at t he a p p l i c a nt w as t o ld in b r o ad t e r ms t he c o n t e n ts of a ny i n t e r im o r d er or r u le n i s i. T he a p p l i c a nt is a d e q u a t e ly s u p p o r t ed in h i s. a v e r m e n ts by M r. M o h au in h is a f f i d a v it as to t he m i s l e a d i ng i m p r e s s i on c r e a t ed by t he 1 st r e s p o n d e n t 's p a p e rs b e f o re t he 2 nd r e s p o n d e n t 's C o u rt a nd t he c o n s e q u e nt w r o ng r e a c t i on t h at t h is e n g e n d e r ed in t he a p p l i c a nt a nd h is c o u n s e l. T he w o r ds of t h is C o u rt in C I V / A P N / 1 9 8 / 91 Swissbourgh Diamond Mines & A n o t h er vs L e s o t ho H i g h l a n ds Development Authority ( u n r e p o r t e d) at p a ge 24 of my m a n u s c r i pt J u d g m e nt m ay p r o ve p r o d u c t i v e; to w it : " My d i f f i c u l ty as to t h is e n t i re p r o b l em is w h e t h er a p r o c e e d i ng w h i ch w as i n i t i a t ed p r o c e e d ed w i th e x - p a r te c an in t he p r o c e ss c o n v e rt i n to p r o c e ss m o v ed on n o t i ce a nd ". W i th r e g a rd to t he i n s t a nt m a t t er it s e e ms to me t h at o ne of t he m a j or d i f f i c u l t i es p r e s e n t ed by t he p r o c e d u re a d o p t ed w o u ld h a ve b e en a v e r t ed if t he M a g i s t r a t e 's m i n u te d a t ed 2 3 - 6 - 89 w h en t he r u le N i si w as g r a n t ed a nd t he r e t u rn / d a te - 7- date fixed as 28-9-89, had been expressed in the proper form provided and prescribed in the rules and served on the applicant along with the originating papers. But this was not done. Finally it does not help to make merit of the fact that the review was properly granted because the Court concerned was of the view that the wrong party was being sued. That same party was entitled to apply to the Local Court to have the proper party jointly sued. As it is the Magistrate rightly discovered that the question of the wrong party being sued was raised for the first time before him. The right approach before the Magistrate though should have been to hold it against the applicant before his Court that wrong suit was not raised at the proper stage. I doubt therefore whether mere refusal to grant the successful party before him costs was enough. Mr. Hlsoli for the 1st respondent sought to cast doubt on the validity or perhaps even the accuracy and provenance of the two paged record in which on more than two occasions he is recorded as showing that should the applicant oppose the application and the other party win the applicant would have had to pay the costs. Although this is a normal statement when making an application 1t would seem to me that for a layman who had briefed a lawyer who failed to turn up when such a proposition was made .it could very well have discouraged him from raising any opposition if such was so closely linked with payment of costs. But as I have said earlier it was irregular to issue a final order without an interim one having been served. The main point in referring to the attitude adopted by Mr. Hiaoli /alluded - 3- alluded to earlier is that the original manuscript of which the two paged record is a copy is contained in the very file obtained from the Magistrate's Court - the very file in which the minuted record which it was, though not in so many words, suggested should be preferred to the two paged typed record! Indeed Mr. Hlaoli had registered his objection to consideration of the latter or anything that was inconsistent with the minuted record. It would seem therefore that while it was understandable that Mr. Hlaoli should query the accuracy of statements contained in a record which he considered suspicious, it cannot equally hold that the original Manuscript forming part of the record he urged the Court repeatedly to have regard to, should be disregarded. In the original manuscript the same words appearing in the two paged typed record are reflected to the effect that "If the Court gives him chance to oppose and if we succeed he will have to pay the costs". Furthermore it is recorded in that original manuscript that "Even though 1st respondent is present in person but that does not show that he opposes this application because he has not made any Notice to Oppose" As I have already indicated it would have been premature for the applicant to oppose the application on 23rd or 24th November, 1989 in the absence of an interim order or rule nisi which should have spelt out more forcefully what he should have opposed if he was so intended, /In - 9- In t he r e s u lt t he a p p l i c a t i on f or r e v i ew by t h is C o u rt on g r o u n ds s et o ut by t he a p p l i c a nt is g r a n t ed w i th c o s t s. J U D GE 1 1 th N o v e m b e r, 1 9 31 F or A p p l i c a nt : M r. H o h au F or 1 st R e s p o n d e nt : M r. H l a o li