[2021] KEHC 9738 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant's deteriorating health, advanced age, and the inordinate delay of 12 years in the conclusion of his trial constituted exceptional circumstances warranting revision of the custodial sentence. The Probation Officer's report supported the applicant's suitability for a non-custodial...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 9738 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Lincoln Kivuti Njeru; Respondent: Director of Public Prosecutions
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision E108 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Sentence Revision
- Outcome
- Custodial sentence set aside; applicant placed on probation for three years.
- Legal Topics
- Sentence Revision, Non Custodial Sentence, Health Grounds, Stealing by Officer, Probation Orders
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Lincoln Kivuti Njeru
Applicant
Director of Public Prosecutions
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Sentence Revision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant's custodial sentence should be revised in light of his deteriorating health and prolonged trial period.
- 2 Whether a non-custodial sentence is appropriate given the applicant's circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant's deteriorating health, advanced age, and the inordinate delay of 12 years in the conclusion of his trial constituted exceptional circumstances warranting revision of the custodial sentence. The Probation Officer's report supported the applicant's suitability for a non-custodial sentence. The court also considered the applicant's willingness to refund the stolen money, the existence of a pending civil suit for recovery, and the lack of opposition from the prosecution. Consequently, the court substituted the custodial sentence with a three-year probation order under supervision, and ordered the refund of the applicant's cash bail.
Court Disposition
Custodial sentence set aside; applicant placed on probation for three years.
Orders
- The applicant is placed on probation for three years under the supervision of Macharia P. N., Probation Officer.
- The conditions of probation are explained to the applicant.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI
CRIMINAL REVISION NO. E108 OF 2020
LINCOLN KIVUTI NJERU...................................................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.................................................RESPONDENT
RULING ONREVISION
1. Lincoln Kivuti Njeruthe Applicant was convicted on three (3) counts of stealing by an officercontrary toSection 282 of the Penal Code.He was then sentenced to serve three (3) years on each count. The sentences are to run concurrently. He was sentenced on 21st September 2020, vide Chief Magistrate’s Court Milimani in Criminal Case No. 1588 of 2008.
2. He has filed this application under Article 165 (6), 50(1) and (50) (2)(e) of the Constitution and Section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Codefor review of sentence. The main reason given is that the Applicant is sick. He suffers from acute asthma, and has difficulty in breathing. The fear is that in this era of Covid 19 and the facility where he is, his life could be in danger.
3. A letter from Nairobi Remand Health Centre where the Applicant is held confirms that he is indeed unwell and is weak considering his age of 60 years.
4. Mr. Kanyoko for the Applicant reiterated the Applicant’s averments. He told the court that the Applicant was ready to pay a fine of Kshs 1 million which was the amount of cash bail he had paid and had not been refunded.
5. It was also shown that the complainant in the case had filed a civil suit for refund of the money and the Applicant was ready and willing to go in for a settlement. He expressed the Applicant’s remorse over what had happened.
6. Mr. Chebii for the Respondent was not opposed to the sentence review to enable the Applicant pay a fine.
7. The Applicant was first arraigned in court on 4th October 2008 and the case was only finalized on 15th September 2020 (A period of 12 years). This was a very long wait for the Applicant and may have contributed to his current illness.
8. I have considered the Application, averments, submissions, the period of waiting for this matter to be concluded, the Applicant’s deteriorating health, and the Probation Officer’s report filed on 21st September 2020 before sentence. The Probation Officer’s report has also made mention of the Applicant’s poor health.
9. It is also noted that the complainant has filed a Civil Suit No. 474 of 2010 (Commercial & Tax Division Milimani) for recovery of the money stolen. The Applicant needs to be out there to organize for the refund depending on the outcome of the civil case. As found by the Probation Officer the Applicant is actually a candidate for a non-custodial sentence. The only issue to consider is what non-custodial sentence to give.
10. I have considered the pain and agony he went through as he waited for the finalization of his case for 12 years. I hereby place him on Probation for three (3) years, under the supervision of Macharia P. N. Probation Officer. The conditions are explained to him. His cash bail should be refunded as ordered on 21st September 2020.
Delivered, signed and dated in open court at Nairobi this 8th day of January, 2021.
H. I. ONG’UDI
JUDGE