PacLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

High Court of Kiribati

You are here:  PacLII >> Databases >> High Court of Kiribati >> 2002 >> [2002] KIHC 34

Database Search | Name Search | Recent Decisions | Noteup | LawCite | Download | Help

Ruata v Kanoanie [2002] KIHC 34; Land Appeal 13 of 2000 (26 July 2002)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KIRIBATI
LAND JURISDICTION
HELD AT BETIO
REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI


High Court Land Appeal 13 of 2000


Between:


ATAUEA RUATA
Appellant


And:


UAKERITA KANOANIE
Respondent


For the Appellant: Mr Banuera Berina
For the Respondent: Ms Batitea Tekanito


Date of Hearing: 26 July 2002


ORDER
(Ex Tempore)


Mr Berina has argued that in C/No. 5/99 the magistrates accepted without proof that the decision in 26/96 had been made based on a fraud: fraud must be proved strictly but there was no proof: yet the magistrates based their decision on the assumption of fraud. If the decision in 26/96 were based on a fraud then it should be corrected. The question is how? The parties to 26/96 were satisfied with the decision so there is no question of an appeal out of time. The only other course would seem to be a judicial review. Mr Berina has expressed a doubt as to whether this Court has the power to extend time to allow a review after six years. We think that question must be argued and decided. If we have power to extend time for review then the question of whether the judgment in 26/96 were obtained by fraud can be tried out and also the point which Ms Tekanito has raised that 26/96 was decided contrary to a 1961 decision. If we cannot review 26/96 then it will have to stand and we must decide this appeal on that basis. Hearing adjourned to allow the parties to argue the point as to whether we can review the decision in 26/96.


The order made on 20 April 2000 stands.


THE HON ROBIN MILLHOUSE QC
CHIEF JUSTICE


TEKAIE TENANORA
MAGISTRATE


BETERO KAITANGARE
MAGISTRATE


PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/ki/cases/KIHC/2002/34.html