Nyasulu v Securicor Malawi Ltd (Civil Cause 1003 of 1993) [1994] MWHCCiv 27 (26 August 1994)

1,1t,\._,l.iLU ftj ,j[) PLA I HTIFF UEFEUiJJ\Jfl' l 1Ui 1 • 1'lli J U~i'I' . LC t., T J ll'; Hyir-c 11 t 1,; , Cour 1,; e l for t he Plaintiff J~a11.:1ui(;i, cou n se l for the Defendant 10~:1u:n;1 , ufl'icia l r·ul~u11uu, ,,,:,co r·ti i n r~ U Cfi cc t' lnter-preter flJ!(A lJlJA\v I HI·: JlJD(; f-'./,l i.::lJ'i' 'l' i 1::, plair,til'f i:.o suing to recover damages for false i_, :, pi•j:.,;u1u 1wnt a11d maljciuus prosecution. He also wants to t' ccu ver Lhe P <::: Li o L: o f 1 ~; L J u 1 y , 1 SJ 9 2 0 _l ) b r:::i n g arrears of ~sala ry for tih:- to 30th J u l y 1 ~ 9 3 at a 1 non t 11 l y s al a r y ::HH,1 c,i' l·(:.<HJ~J . d'.0 i., i (j b • lj :.; • . i. L j :; cu11,H1011 ca,,e U , a t the pl a i rii: i i'. C was ern;> l oyed by tne ,ti:; a -.·,a1~es cl~rk ancJ he 111as stati u nf~d t o ~;er1101' !~uc:1.r ds 11,ho were referred to as NCOs. t:: 1e prej)C:-tr'atioi1 of paf roll:::; ancJ the µay111e11t u,_,1·,-•rwa11t, 11i,.; duUcs i11clliU:: li of vta_J,e:-, p1d.i1ll., :i. fr ,1a ~, a nuu1t.>e'l' of c1c 1'k::; ur1cler- pla11t :Lf f a11u 0LJ1t~1· c]eck~~ ,v1::re checked t)y Mr Hack ston JvlK.andawire (u\vl) ,vilo v✓ ; ts lJ(;Lii c: cusl 1ier a 11ci Ass :Lstcmt Branch J/lanager. p L. J. i J1 L i :t' f 1 S-::J 2 wllen he was Lal<en in to cus touy by the Po 1 ice. i 1 1 t l, e d c f c n ci,: trl t ' s em p l o y u n t i 1 1 7 th Ju 1 y , The \•1ages once prepared by t1 1e \;/;_1ge~:; ~-,ection and there were thl? in-c l1 arge in Lne i.n Lilonu;we. l ' c 1 ,1 a i r 1 e tJ lli 111 . The ·i1 r1e 't' i' 1e Liook,:3 of accounts in Lilongwe were checked by Mr wales \ 1 e l 9 ~J c' to Li. 1 on g we r or r o u l: i n e ch e ck • t; iie licacJquacter!,; ·i n Blantyre anu he usec:1 to conunute lhe pla intiff ' :-:, work anu a11 was fine. J\. a;n uwiri (U1:2) wt 10 was the sen ior accounts officer. He was ua:;e d aL ,,c.:l:,,,een GlanLyre ,.uiu Li1Dr1gwe from tirne to t:i.me. t 1~ ave l l e u 1.:>: 1 u o 1 J u 1 1 e lrn::ipccce d i:l. CLUc1.lly co1 .1i11t::ncleci the ;) l ;:, inL i. ff for a 1.vet·r: i.n Liti:tL a 11u1 11U 1:-'1· uf L -J. L~e n a 1n es v:ere ad oed lJ 11 1/cl!_',<::'S . 1,0iil:,~ ~•LdiJiu1 1 ~>j Li1l-cj gut: Lll :~.f a ffi i·:,1;_:t\;:i vc dl i ll Lll\:: ll th e p:iaj_r1Li re WclS put :Ln custouy. fl'U);l lliii ! . t. JH ' pu l :i.cc e nq1Jlr ed froi'1 hr i-~amt)wiri i f th e l<:,u11 t·,h·i r· i, dr r:1f',c~111a anu Mr· Chipwa.lia. ,·1ov1ever- p1·ou18n:3 wjth t he i)ay rolls µrepared by ;,Ir Hnyay .i. l'/i;i1 J~t ly 1 CJ'.:)? the 11lainl; :Lf1~ i-i..: ' Karnbwi1'i answeceu i11 th e take n to Lilongv.e ,-:r · Hyu~;u] u . job well done. jvlr Kamt)wir·i Towarus tlie i 1 1- u u.,.~11L () ,J; <1 i11 ,-.:(i bl.il(t::l!il-:J /\L Th e t· e l:1 1,:J'tc ;,-1c1.s \"iilS \·/ ;\.::-; i'-i r le<) \ \·,' [ 11:111 r, 1,u1 trierel)_v infi ::, tin g Lh e l le . , { ,: I • •• • 'N c.i. S \,·a s told the lJe in g ta ;zt~r1 'l'l1e plain t i f f r'VHJ e: 11cc~ il 1' tl1at lJefucc J1e was t o 111ake stal:e1 ;1e n U; . tal<:.en Lo police on 17th th e re, he was told tr 1a t \. Ir Karnbwiri had told him L> uL .irwtc~ali i1e was put in custotly . !::5 urpr ise<J when he was put in pol ice custody r~:-u11uwiri ilad gone Lo tlie pol. Lee station several T i1c following day he was transferred to I'•laula Hernan<..i Tl1e pla.i11urr tlloughl: i 1e v, a s goin g to police to 'l'tie al legation 111ade a gainst him was that he had stolen 1 L \va s 11.i.:c-; July, 1 '. J~1;-2 t i.111e s . P1-i so n. co11q.1:.u 1y 1noney uy way of e n tering false names on the pay rolls. Til e br ,tr1c r1 111anager and his assistant were a ls o asked to make s Lo. l.e 1ncntt; tJut Li i cy wet'e not cleta:Lne cJ. CDt , rt that l1e ::ic cnuse wnen I 1c ,ver e merely Go in;:, t;J 1a L i1fr 11'1ilyayi a11Li dr tJotornan:i wi:-~r c~ entering false names in Lile pay roll s . assi s t K i.un lHv i r j li&u rn ,-1de i t. sLat:e111ent Le 11 cie rco as L ,;,i 1iLd l: el . µlaintif.f kc~~JL u11cia:L111eu pay packet~, which is not true. All ur1cl a iri1eci pa_y 1i; tcis, <::>ts were iiancJ e cJ f o r safe l<et:! p i11 ,._r,. by other- o f fic e i· s sucl 1 as J.ir r: u inv,e in oe c1.nu plai nt il't' <. Ed 110L take part in compiling tile pay rolls for the a1, rn l:h s i<',a1nLJwiri's statement. When µay1,1ent is lJe L11 r~ mad,~ o l'Licer·s fro m tr 1e wages, disc i pline and operations u,:)p c1.r·t111 e 11ts cu-:; ~;ist . Ln Ld e ntii'y in t?; p 1 ai n t i f f was a cquiLLed 0 11 1st Aµ rj_l, 1'0~33 . Both tlle charge sheet and copy of ; le di d no t L ii e t'e c e ive his snlary foe tile 1no11th ot' July, 1992 and he was not s er·ved wi tl1 susiie rrn ion of ois1nissal letters. r~arli e r on Mr l: o the pol ic e and this was i'ictse~; were no t only paLd lJy the plai.n t i f f , but tal.-:en to court on 7th Sep te,nbe t', 1992antl he was 1 11 Li1aL statement l'ir Kmnbwiri said tJ1e t e t1 Ll e re ci 8. s Ex hi b i t P 2 an cl P 3 . the payees. Subsequently the to Ji/ r MKanda'vire , j u u g e 111 e n t vw rt~ the cashier 1n e 11t i o 11 e u i•lr Kalua . tt1ey The i11 l-i r Ti 1e i' j r:.:; t 1-, .i. t ness fo 1· tne defendant was Mr Backs ton h e was tne de fend a nt' s casr1ier and assist'lnt branch l1L::, u uti es includecl checking tile wages sl 1 eets prepared \,iicn 11e v,as satis 1·t eci he would sign the wages ,-l11u L!1,~11 Vi ll e ri L H~ su1n 1n ;:u'ie s were pas .,,,e J l:t1e u1'ancl1 manager for fin a l l:o l 1cad office iri Blantyre for t:he wages. ,. Jr Hyasu lu would tllen 'vihe11 Lile i_n packets. t 1~ ya:5u lu a nd lli.s tea.111 1voulu put i t he pL 1. inLL(f jl,ti d tl 1e 1JCU ' s wh . Lle Lile other c l erks pai ci t.he ,-1c l1ar1d Ll1eu1 t) e tor'e Ll1ey wer e 1-li<;::m c.ia\vire . 111an nge r . lJ_y Llie plaj11L i fL' ru10 h i s U .'i.-:tlll. ,., u1i11i1 a ri e s t'in-; l. i;1 a r1 ag er. 1;; u 11111 1r1.r i_e s :3u ;111 11ary. LC: lt:p ho11 c Ll 11~ 111on e_y 2uT.i.vt~ u, ill l U junj o 1· Li 1es l~ wou 1 d ue Lal(en Lo U 1e wi. tnes s v-1c r e 11ot clairned for a n u1ni)e r of days, U,if 11-~e u. ::-;Lal.(a'i ll e nt J-Jc ~tr 1-d<:.a nuawice dLd nol; .know f\ a i;1l-1wtri 1na ue ::.it 1:',uanJs . l f lilOney would be tlH:> tl1e k. Lntl of report anu tile µolice sta t i.on. l f at all ti1ece were a ny p a y packets unclaimed, these i'or safe l<eepi11g . J'.lr uyasulu would check tl1e: wage taken tu Llie ass is ta n t branch 'J' ne secono a 11d J as L witness 1' 0 1- Lli e cle fen uo n t s v✓ a!::5 hr 1:ia l e:-; ;-~amlJv1iri . ,:1.c c o un t::-, offic e r a1 1d H l an t yre . His u u U .es in cl udecl c h e cking the boot<s of accounts at l.:ne Lj_Jont?;we or1 ·ice where the plaintiff Wets basecl . l t was also lli s lie \'1as s Lal ioned at Uie lleadquarte rs in tJy the defendan t as a senj_or to remit wa Ee s Lo Lilonp; vJC~ . r e i, ponsihj_Li t y 1.vas e111p loye cl il e :3 I . ... . \ l e f i. Ji:lY rnau e , by U ie t o cnecl< til e ,. J t ' (~p ace lrtLJour- l, u l.r t(: r· c g i_ ::;Le c. Al l g uara s we r e e n t ered in t il e iJlr:J_i n liff v, oulu pt' e pare a summ a ry. For U1 c . L1 1 U 1e Ltoour re g isL.e r . Gu a rds who se n ai11es were l: i1e ~:; u 1i1u1,ll 'Y , he woulu h a v e l'e y,i ::~tc r . ·,,:;( ~; L11al; after Ut e pay r· o lls we t' e Li1 l : F r orn Li111e to tirn e s o111 e g uard s left empl oy1ne 11 t . t ernploy1n e t1 t we r e ; Jr·u,::,u I, ,. ,,' ','i i ,~ \~'d .11,1,:> ~~ cl :: ;• ,c.; , p L t ir 1Lt I,_ l'u1 1 :-; ct1 1d L,t> <> U t' 1, !1, •; 1 LndL l 1c1 pp•.~11 c< i, Lhe 11 ;w1cs o f guard s wno c;,1i 1c~,1 1 e d l ';u 1c, ,' 11 e u 1ve r e n o t suppus e u tu a ppear on the p ay ro 11 s. \·ll 1.1' wi 1e n prcp;:;c i n g ;1li-J. i.11L i f f to cl 1cc!( 1\ J'l,c r' pt' Co Jl i.l. r i11 ,f1, d::c;,; i c:; La nL L>r· n nci1 iil cH1 a g e 1' i L Lu L1 1e ura 11 cr 1 :n ct rw w~ r- . Liw i_11a i 11 t .i l'f ·.-10 1.d d Lnct L wa 1,: e s 1n,1y tiw . J L i. 101 1gw e , T h e sysLern v, as th at the L;tke plac e v✓ d;- ~(~1,; c lr!r i:, : <1, ,,, I , : r·ot;tl, i ?, L>ut th e p L -1 i. n c i t' f cl1a n g e d th a t a n d n e u 11 1 v uric l :1 i ,r ,, ,, i t ake i t Lo th e l. 1.n·11 woul d pass the summary was J.' Jn a l l y pasr;ecl , ,~L Lh e L: ll d v✓ P ce nanuecl to L11e c ashier· foe safe t lle s u II u!,;:u · u ,s it wa s r>oi .l1 L11 e p , ,y rolJ :.:; a nu th e ,;enl. . :)c , J ,} r"-, , 1,1; ,c iJ! u { ' f or t h e l c1l) ouc l' eg i .~,Ler . lJ1 1c t,: Lile v1aL es wer e cec e ived in t i1 en pay me n L wou 1 cl l: 11 e pl. aillLif'f woul d f ot' c ti e c l<i.n g a nd r1 c i 11 1 >; 1y p ac l{e Ls a n d i t)Uc-, p :1.v' poj_nts . !; h e n ea ci offi ce i n Blantyre so ,: >f L il e UH.fa l l tn e sumIIIal· y , 11 1;;L11 ot'fi ce . impot'L:i n t l, Ed(:;> i 1u 11e i:1 , 0 1J; ,. ;.,e t s ;it, Li 1,. ,; ('i i ,, 'vJ;i t~ ll ,J.tJ i.ri : ; l ✓ ! t 'l' i1 a t is i-lr' l\ c;lt lll)~v it ·i we nt t o 'l'O V/etl' Ub Lti e l; o Cl1 (' c i, Ei ll (J or Ju n e , 1 9 9 2 , l,r1e U(1u i( c, o f dCC0 11r1Ls . i1e t i1 e f oull <J ~-✓ i1 e n tie cilec l{ ecl t h e p a y roll s . cl i sc repanci es . t l 1a L gu a rds whos e t· c .: ;. L::; Lc(· ap µ e ar e u o n ,Ha:~ 111,H 11: Lo p e rs u 11 s wh o had l o n g 11 a 111 es we ce can ce l l eU ln oth e r wo rd s L i l u n g we ce n tre a t wl! Lci 1 l:i 1;,: pLLi 11Lj. f f p a ic.l , ·v:t1,•d ; he ct i :-;cove 1· eu ·Ha~; Li ,c Liuout ' t; cm;.> loyrnenL. p; ;y ;,1e ;1L wn ,, det·1 ,au 1J i 11g U1,~ U•:~l' e nu a nt coill1,iany . t, ccoru i n g to the repo r t ;•i r• h.a1niJw ir·i t~::, v e Lo U ie po l j ce , Lhis f r a ud sta rt e u in Janu a r y , tt1i s me thod or mak in g l Y~c'. u n u . Juli e 1 Y 92 . t' (Ll se e 1il, ri c1:; 011 L I1 e pay ro ll s tne u e fen<lari t c o11 1p any lost a LuLJ.l o f 1\_ ,.; ~ u Ju . :J~i . of cu.nce ll cd cr .i ; d oyr.i c 11L canJs , pay roll s ann a wi 1ich c l ea rly ,:; 11uw Ll1 e pe rson s 'l' l 1 .. : be .i. 11 ~1, ue f r,tw_jL n E wa ge ~~ l: lf~I'l<S . i'Jc Li tio u s n a ,11,:; :.; v1e1' e p r e par8J by t•lr M11 y ay a . L. p l airiU r r v, as af;; kecJ ai)out tJ 1i s discce p ancy, he s a iu h e (Jiu n ot. IO l OV/ . l•it' h. r:u11 lJv1 i r i tencie r e d in e vi d ence a 11u1nl>er l a bour re g i s t e r '.'l/10 we re not i11 e111 ploy1ne11 t were .'::i () stolen \'/ e nl into Li 1e p o cl<et s of t il e t i1 at c on ta ined 'l't1e p ay r o ll s ,1e 11 c un up Lu V/iiell U1e 1)a i <J . ;,;un e y l e f Hy t .i 'l'li:i. s i n l)e T t1 e maLLe1' 1,, a s Lll e n r e por'Led to th e p o li ce . l;hey request e cJ th a t t o the police stati or,. i•ir- Ci 1i ua,nu o Lo l; r , 111c3 p CJr-l: a1 1<1 so take n di e. I n ot !, a ve c l c t ·l< r, mid t he LJooks i(a!li bwi ri an d lir Hkanclawi. t' e lloto ma n i a1 10 a11tJ h i. s c ol L:ap,ues we r e c l c~r l< t, , i•lnyay.i wrot e a Le l: t er a umi lt ing invol v emen t . 1t was Mr i, it 1i 1l. J\v :i1' i ' s e v 1.d e11c e U1 a L a ltl1ouf~h v, ;:tges wer e pa i d in t il e of r·ii-ly a 11 cl J u rie , ~:; u u11;:;;n·ie~; fu r tog ell1er wi tl1 Mr ll1e polic e s tati o n. The pl a in t Lff T w o wages tne plain t i ff I1ad n o t; p t'ep are cl an y then alisc onded. Mr t he poLi_ce sta ti o n. 'J'he polic e tl1e t h e pl a int i f f ;.:-,usp ecte d So Mr f. Jr f:;n ya_1 i l e ft a t i~u1nv1e1 11l:; e ;.rn u J.'it· l1au b y rnonU1!::> l 'J~2 , t no ~-:;,: ,11 011 U 1s too l<: . ,j / . . • • . - - Jn cr·( ; ::,-;--ex arni n a t ion , hr l<.amLHvlr·i tol<l the cuurt tl1at tile f)la.inti.r1· pr·t~1i,n·e,j pay rolls l'or l·!CU' s an<l that those pay rolls naci no L -',uJ t. prep a cc sur 11,!lacie~, . 011l y concc-~cJc cl U1fat i-ii1:,;v✓ •2reu 'y es '. ;;_L U1e . LL was however, Lhe plaintiff's 1'esµonsibility to lie 111c:-linti:l.inecl triat: he took to police not. lie ' Is this Mr J~yasulu?' And he lie 111a i 11ta i 1ieu tnat tr1e ui sc repancies wece 1'ouncJ tlle p lainl.iff but also Vir Botornani and Hr Ct1ibambo. t lle po. L i ce asked: tl l o} plai11tiff paid. 111<:, in ce1lt,i'C:" v1r1ere J nU\v vJi ,.;i 1 Lo e vc1.1 lfrl. Le l:1 1e cvicw 11ce before rne. l start . 1-1 r· ' J :-; i _; .i ~, :1 1.? j_s i, r' 1 t in Ti1e ;_, i,;l,, i 1•.:1' •~ t:l1aL i,,1 i. ~, 'I' ll i :; ;-:iL_-;u In t he tH) rnere lwl. L,.: v e ci Lii ief . l:rw! LJ1at t1e :nade a is cu 11 Lc 11d cci jj' J1 ( ~ 1,1ere1y jj_y:,1.c,u.i.u'!' a; i J the uef e nu a1 1t Hr· h,u;w1•1j_r'i mau e a I regret to say that I the plaintiff who stole v✓ il t: 11 J:lr Ka111bwi r·i cH1sw1~rP.d l:lw only inference to oe c; :,,id U1al a ll lhe police la111 l'elal,i.ng to false i111prisorn:1ent Tne dr~; ·e 11 ua11t call o nly ue liable j_f lci.icJ information to the police wJ10 l·,arniY.v i r j_ <ii<l n ot t:e l1 Llie poJj_ce tr1at Mr : p o l i.ce that i t wa s i. L i11 tne abse n ce of the plainliff, Mr Ka111bwiri rro:.i Li1·' J' ,tci , L n<:? pol . Lee µuL 11i111 in custody i1mneu LtLely i t :1c: was f. Jr llyasulu. l,11,cil, cunc lu ,-,ioll tJecause i t woul d ,,v.i.ueilCe tilal: i,J c h cur11Jvliri laid a cl1arge i·,1 1.:? 1,1,,. i11ti.i"f Luln L: ,c court U1at tie was alone l'✓ . LL!1 false :i 11qi1· Lso1 1111enL . i: -; w,~ 11 se tL l 1,'1, . ci1ar 1~e aga i110 L Lt 1(~ pJ.ai11Liff . On the otiwr t1aJ1Li i:::, rniL lj_nlJ 1 e i, 1ieic 01,,i1 \ J uu:;,,,,,1 1·r1L put Li1c plainLil'f i nto custody. L11:~l,a111, C,tc,E:, Lo L11e ;Joli e,-: . WilCJl U•-~ ins Ld i. Zc:: il Lu poJ. :Cl'. i:;aid ,v.:i~~ '°i','s' Li 1l--:'Y Ju:~:, p u L him in custody. This coucL is l>eing a.skeu Lu i;1w,, L nave Lold U1,0 Ln e J11o ney. uc ; 1v111 1•1;1 ~; cor 1J'i r·w •r J Ci1t111ol. dr,tv✓ c:u11,1en cLut·c. ;. Jy;i :-;ulu v:::,r:. ;-u 1ti in U\:-1. L ~;L , tLt'1 .1enL ri e (iiu riot re!'er to the plaintiff as a th i •::' f 1r1t:~11Lio11eu Li1t~ plai.11LiJ'f uul: 11e old not say th;:it tile plaintiff v,,.:.u~ a plaintif f tl la L L he ::; ta Le rn en l; d i d 110 t LJ l _j_ C L office rs i11volv ,ld ill tile prep a ration of pay t'olls and i t ciid not suy Lhe lu ss 1,;;1.s uccat_,~;i.u n t_~u oy acld. L11g fal se names on U1e pay coll,_;. ,,rnii!Jvil ri i 1a ,1 c: 1d rged Uie p l aintiff with l: iiefl: . 1'c1 ;1e1:1ue1'ecJ Ll ii:tt "i L was not only the plaintiff wl10 was pol. Lee . L,i t,, c U 1er· wj l:11 Uic pl.ai. 11Li. f f . jJlai.11t.;iL'i' cunce d e u thac h e Ci,iLlambo wer'e 1 , l a i : 1 t i f f ~--; a :i. u sLatio1 1. J '-~.f a chat'ge . i11sl;r ·uclions of tlie police li e l,u L11e µol ic e . ::;lwul u ilave lJ ee n La.ken t: o µol ice. p J ai11t i.ff alot 01.· que~,l:ions and on the answers gi ven they deciued t o put i1i.1n jn c u stody. Tile clai111 for false irnprisornnent U1cref'o t~e falls away . tai<e11 to hr C11ib,ii,:OO mid i•ir J.\0Lorna11i were~ dlso taken to police tuok the pJ.aintiff and two otl1ers l lac! ,,I11 yay i ancl Kumwe111be 110 L absc onded,. they Loo J. J_y J'i11uinP, on the rnatter is trw.t J,lr Kam lJwiri did no t Tiios(: u;ii;.,Ls::,.1.01,s, 11owe ver v✓ oulu. noL 1r1ea11 tllat Mr \•I as ask e d a 1 o t o f q u e s t i on s at the po 1 i c e to police . All Lr1ree 1,1ade state rnents. The JJ t: 1i1er,~. Ly repo1·t:ed tiw 111aLter and on the i n hi s s ta l:ernen t 1·,tr Karnb wi r i cnly t ogether ,vitll f.]1• Ilotorn ani and Mr . LLself mean tlFtt he was tile t,tat.ement to th e police in cross-exa111inaLion, tt1e st ateiflent said the ;1,l._':/ packets would not; 'l'lle pol ice asked the 'J'ne 1ne1·e fact t. J1at In e n t i On _j S L L' U e 1L nn.ist. tJ1ieJ.'. t,i.t~cn l<epL t !J e the lie l L 11 e ;Ju.-, ,, ,,)V,! u,: ti1e cl,1.11,1 for <Ja111ages for malicio u s Ji k! p 1 ai n l: j_ L- l' w,-1 ~; subsequently ctiaq~eci w i U1 t;o i,1H~ Lrir~l f?,ll.ir~u UiJ in i1is c.1cqui Ltc1l. the l't 'l'his claiill :;11cc :•"<·:cJ if IH' ca 11 p r ·ove tl1at l:lw1 ·e were no reasonaule ,1_!,r'ou11<1:; for Lak. L 11 i1, him Lo cout't. As 1,Jakuta CJ ( Jvi a 1 aw i ) Ltd i< i w a v s U AT t I i e c a,,; e o f i n i t (as ,u1,; p r'o,-;ecu 1, i 01 1. t >y 0<!t'v:;1tL c<1n <)fl1.i a1\1i 111·ut,c1ble l w ,:j,Jj I Ca u:_,e 1:0 . 3/~~ or l :JH7 . 1, : , e 1 1 \•i as ) p u t /JIIU. In t ll e abs en Ce O 1' li1ciasundule grounas c,r-e sucll circu111s tance~~ 111ust, Ul~ entered for the defendant r:1 pcu<le n t 111nn ,_il;sence or reasona 'LJ le anu l:i e s LI~)() I l Li I e p 1 a i n t i fr . 'Trt r' oriuf; ()J' proving t,;ie (' ;_lU s r: l J J . 0 b a IJ 1 (_' suci1 evjuet,cl~ j11llr,;11 1P. 11 t see /\ut'dLi1 v . 1i ur-Li1 1~uslen1 iiailv1ays (18 t:,j ) 11 (~1 . B . D . l,ea!,on2d>le Eu1d prou;-1uJe cause collsists i11 an no 11 est arid 1_-, er I u i r 1 e u -~ J L e r u as e u upon r' ea s cm au l e gr o u nu i n ui' the al:l;tu-;;:u . dS \-Ju11l(i J ,,;, u ,1ccusc(, ,'. (1, ,1:1, i LLeu unly tu cons id e r v. ti 1e <Jef'e n uan t 1,ias ac Lu a Leu uy 111al ice in ti 1e £l ruve Uu, t. c,e11se of f::;urae wro n g or i ncHrect r,1otive, an hCt ion will li.e . uef<.,'1t(icu1L iti ,: 1 l:c, co,11,11itLir1, ·, uepce uaL1o n ~3 on l)j_s proµcrty l;uu11L i ec:; Het:i. l way Co . v . 111j_c_,L-111l, j':)/j • I to Ll1e conclusioll that ti1e lTi :,1e alles~eu anJ i..t is ,na. Ler.i.al :.1c _,,u.1I L:1 , uuL .i.n order Lo deter ot11e:rs fro111 i'act,1-; k nu,'111 Lo \\: . 11 . u . lt)7 . 1·.vi1_ic:11ce of 111ctli.ce 111::-iy tJe present wnere the , mu Lander (1854) the defe nda n t : liicKs . lr tl1e plaintiff Celli ,n'u,;,~cucecl tt 1,~ pL:-1i11Li1·r not becr1use lie LJelieved t, he g u j _ l t, \_lc',(iJ - /,r.:) :::itevens lU L\. [,";rnL~J!{!l' t i,,__-, i,1: 1. : ,_, u11 L.11c t'itcts of L11 is ca:..:,e , J find tila.l: thcr-e were l'il 1a l~ thii, means ls that: payment was to per,,on,:; who <J i_d not: exj_st,. Altr1ouxh U1e pay rolls were r'ea:3onc1tJ·I,: and µroiJ.:J.o l e gro u nd:-; for L>t'ingini', the 1>rosecutio11. The uisccepar1ci,~E; were founu at the centre !;he plainliff paid. 'l'ilis fact is not u.i.sp u teu . 1nacie p1'epareu uy i','inyayi , it was Lhe µlainti.ff 1>JJ10 prepared the su,;:r,1.cu'i es . plaintiff 'i/£1,-, n>;ui.reci Lu cl 1eck L11e pay rolls and the labour rei-~L, te 1'. i)ay rollf_; conLai.11eu t11ereuy ucca~;siontng a 1·easo nable unci pr 'obaule i!.rounds for oringing the prosecution . Tile plaint if I' ha,,; def'c11ci,.wL . The ,n'oceci u r"e was that in prepcl.t~inE summaries the i'ci lse na1nes anu yeL he proceedeci and paiu 11 0 L s, 1ov.: n a11y 111al ice on tt1e iJart of Lile J1 e d :L '-: do U 1e ci1,.:cid_r 1,~ 'i'ili~, ~:au::-;e u f actio1 1 also fails. l oss . There were therefore then ne was aware that the l arY,e l f 'ft 1 c~ re w r: re sur f i c i en t gr o u n ct s upon w h i c J 1 ,n uve 01 1 tu Lhe clajm f'or 13,.il:--iry . Clearly Lllis ir1 cnar ' ge or t n e accounts section. True it was 1.-ina.lly . L c 1 a L: 11 c cl rn w L s u c c e e ci • Ll1e plalriLj_Cl' cuuld hav e LJeen sun11na.r-ily dismisseu. Tile ,Jlai11ttff' ,,urn J-ill.fctyL w;H J slcll'Led irt . J,u1ua1'y 1,;11:ibwi. 1'i u.iscovcrec1 Liie ~_,cnenic. p,, f t1i':' tl 1e LJec au ~ e r·ulU, a11c, i'caucJ . lie \v,1:-, a party to j_ L. ill't:p ,,,t· e u Lne µa,1 IL ic, eas y ,·olls v,ith false n;:=unes . Tnis l <J '.:Jc' a11ci it i'Un uµ to June lS:!9 2 , when 1ii r l ;:;wuu 1· cet;is ter~ i1e v1ould easily ilave arrested t:o see Li1,-iL Lne f r auu wcni: 011 for so lon g 11' the plaintj_Cf checked tr1t~ G/ . ,;ci1cil:L' . ;1 lL v, >l,~ ,11:1 0aLLs i'i t~'-; u 11 L l.l1e June , , 1 ," au u r 1' i c e ti 1 ,..? u u t. i l: 11t 1e ,; 0 1 ';✓ oul.l, 11ut; ui' ac L. Lo ri ,dso Ca il s . r i n u iJ ,dan ce 0 1· p r oua0LJ LLies Ln at h e was p a r L or .i. 11 evic e nc e U 1at for t n e ,no n t h s of I~ay an d !1<': ui.u 110L ~it ·e pa ce a n y sunl!11ar i es a l t 11 ough he te l ep h o n ed at l' o r s a L 3 e i e s . 1 t i s L 1' LW L 11 ;::. t h e wa s a c q u i t t e cl lt 1 ,1 L I I j _ ::..; c ,) n u u c t J\13 1 ,i i s office . i 1ave ::..; 11 cceeded wi thout l1i s co - ope 1'a t 1.on. This C i::l. U SC VJ a s w ll o 1 l y i1 a v e a lre a d y oL>serve d , the s ch eme . L 1 1 c Oi n p a l i b 1 e w i t h t h e .lr 1 Lii e f! l ai n tif t L.11,' r esu l l, the ac t j on i s <Jl sni i sseu i n its ent i rety . _L:-; c or1 Je ;n1 1L~ l.1 in Li ,e costs of th ese !-H ' Oc ee din gs . P r·o n o ur1 ce,1 L1 1 0 1H~ 11 cuur L Lni s 2LJLr 1 ctay o f /\. u P, u s t, 19~4 .