[2024] KEHC 15810 (KLR)
The court found that the sentence imposed was the statutory minimum for the offence of defilement and that the trial court had considered the applicant's mitigation. There was no evidence that the trial court applied wrong legal principles or considered irrelevant factors. Therefore, the sentence was legal and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEHC 15810 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Issack Mohamud Bawoy; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Garissa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application E028 of 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Leniency After Conviction and Sentencing
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- JN Onyiego
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Sexual Offences, Defilement, Judicial Discretion in Sentencing
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Issack Mohamud Bawoy
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Leniency After Conviction and Sentencing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the High Court can interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial court on grounds of leniency after conviction for defilement.
- 2 Whether the sentence imposed was harsh or excessive in the circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the sentence imposed was the statutory minimum for the offence of defilement and that the trial court had considered the applicant's mitigation. There was no evidence that the trial court applied wrong legal principles or considered irrelevant factors. Therefore, the sentence was legal and appropriate, and there was no basis for the High Court to interfere with it. The application for leniency lacked merit and was dismissed.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for leniency is dismissed.
- The applicant shall serve the sentence imposed by the trial court.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
Bawoy v Republic (Miscellaneous Criminal Application E028 of 2024) [2024] KEHC 15810 (KLR) (16 December 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 15810 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Garissa
Miscellaneous Criminal Application E028 of 2024
JN Onyiego, J
December 16, 2024
Between
Issack Mohamud Bawoy
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
Ruling
1. The appellant was charged with the offence of defilement c/s 8(1)(4) of the sexual offences Act No.3 of 2006. Particulars are that on diverse dates within the month of April 2021 within Hagadera refugee camp in fafi sub-county, within Garissa county, he intentionally and unlawfully caused his penis to penetrate the Vagina of SMA a child aged 16 years. He was also charged with an alternative count of committing an indecent act with a child c/s to 11(1) of the sexual offences Act.
2. Having pleaded not guilty, the matter proceeded to full trial to which he was convicted and sentenced to serve 15 years imprisonment. He has now moved to this court seeking for leniency on grounds that he has reformed.
3. Prosecution opposed the application arguing that the court is functus officio. I have considered the application herein and the response thereof.
4. It is trite that sentencing is at the discretion of the trial court and an appellate court can only interfere with the same if established that the trial court applied wrong legal principles, considered irrelevant factors or took into consideration irrelevant factors or it is harsh or excessive. See Ogolla s/o Owuor v Republic (1954) EACA where the court held as follows.“The Court does not alter a sentence unless the trial Judge has acted upon wrong principles or overlooked some material factors.”
5. The applicant is not challenging the conviction. He is arguing that the sentence is harsh in the circumstances. The sentence provided for the offence allegedly committed is a minimum of 15 years. The court considered his mitigation as well. It is my finding that the sentence meted out was legal and appropriate. He was given the minimum sentence hence not harsh.
6. In view of the above holding, I do not find merit in the application and the same is thus dismissed and the applicant shall serve his sentence.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY THIS 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2024J. N. ONYIEGOJUDGE