The Court of Appeal has voiced strong concerns regarding six individuals contesting their deportation to South Korea, who have repeatedly filed summons in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal without adhering to proper court rules. This was articulated by the President of the Court of Appeal, Filimone Jitoko, during a case on August 6 involving members of Grace Road: Sung Jin Lee, Nam Suk Choi, Byeongjoon Lee, Beomseop Shin, Jung Yong Kim, and Jinsook Yoon.
The individuals sought judicial orders to declare that the arrest and subsequent deportation of Byeongjoon Lee and Beomseop Shin on September 6, 2023, from Fiji to South Korea was unlawful. Justice Jitoko noted that the appellants disregarded established appeal procedures outlined in the High Court rules and attempted to bypass the appropriate channels for reviewing the High Court’s decision.
He pointed out that instead of following proper appeal processes, the appellants requested the Court of Appeal’s immediate intervention for a rehearing and review of lower court decisions. Justice Jitoko stated, “Ultimately, the appellants’ summons seeks the same remedies that have already been addressed by the court below and are also under appeal in both this court and the Supreme Court.”
He concluded that this approach represents an abuse of court processes and ruled that the Appellants’ Summons is without merit.