Criminal appeal against judge's adjournment decision dismissed as no cause was shown.

[*564] 1969 April. 22

(VASSILIADES, P. , TRIANTAFYLLIDES, JOSEPHIDES, JJ.)

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

Aristides Kefalas,

Appellant,

v.

The Police,

Respondents.

(Criminal Appeal No. 3088).

Criminal Procedure - Adjournment - Appeal against adjournment - No cause shown against adjournment - Matter within the discretionary power of trial Judges - The Criminal Procedure Law Cap. 155, sections 48 and 157(1) - Frivolous and groundless appeal - Dismissed.

Criminal Procedure - Costs - Provisions for costs in section 151(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law Cap. 155 - They may have to he made use of to discourage frivolous and groundless appeals.

Adjournment - See under “Criminal Procedure”.

Appellant in person.

S. Nicolaides, Counsel of the Republic for the Respondents.

JUDGEMENT

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by: -

VASSILIADES. P.: There is no merit in this appeal. It is taken against an adjournment of the criminal proceedings against

the appellant for knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution, contrary to section 146(1)(a) and 35 of

the Criminal Code, Cap. 154. [*565].

The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge on August 26th, 1968, and the case was adjourned for hearing on the 17th December, 1968; the appellant was allowed hail in the sum of £200. On December 17, the trial Judge adjourned the proceedings for want of time, the accused continuing on the same bail.

On the next appearance on February 4, 1969, the prosecution applied for an adjournment on the ground that one of the main prosecution witnesses was out of the island. Counsel for the appellant stated that he had no objection to the

adjournment and the case was adjourned for March 4,1969. On that day another witness was not available at 10 a.m. and the

prosecution applied for a warrant of arrest and an adjournment of the case because of the witness’s absence. Counsel for the appellant objected to the adjournment.

The trial Judge, taking into account all relevant matters granted an adjournment to the 15th May, 1969; and directed the issue of a warrant for the arrest of the absent witness. About half-an-hour later, when the accused and the other witnesses had left the Court, the absent witness appeared and stated that he was delayed at the Hospital for an X-ray. The present appeal was taken against the Judge’s decision to grant the adjournment.

The matter was clearly within the discretionary powers of the Judge under sections 48 and 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law, Cap. 155. And in the circumstances we think that the Judge properly exercised such powers. The appellant did not show any cause against the adjournment which was apparently necessary in the interest of justice. We see no reason [*566] for interfering with the Judge’s decision; and the appeal must, therefore, “be dismissed.

We have considered whether, in these circumstances, we should not proceed to make an order for costs against the appellant under the provisions of section 151(1) of the Criminal Procedure Law, which are obviously intended to discourage frivolous and groundless appeals. In practice such orders are rarely made; but

it is not without difficulty that we have reached the conclusion that on this occasion we should confine ourselves to a warning that the provisions for costs may have to be made

use of to discourage such abuse of process. Speaking for myself, I would add that I am beginning to lose faith in simple warnings. In this case, however, we decided to make no order for costs.

Appeal dismissed.