[2023] KEHC 17598 (KLR)
The High Court held that its revisionary powers under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code are confined to correcting errors of legality, correctness, or propriety, and do not extend to substituting sentences or considering substantive issues such as alternative sentencing, which are matters for appeal. The...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 17598 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Joshua Mwakazi Mwambi; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Voi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application E006 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
- Outcome
- Sentence revised to deduct 15 days spent in custody; application otherwise dismissed.
- Judges
- GMA Dulu
- Legal Topics
- Sentence Revision, Stealing by Servant, Mitigation, Application of Section 333 2, Powers of Revision, Custodial Vs Non Custodial Sentence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Joshua Mwakazi Mwambi
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial court erred by failing to consider the period spent in remand custody under section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
- 2 Whether the sentence imposed was harsh or improper given the applicant's status as a first offender and mitigating circumstances.
- 3 Whether the High Court can grant an alternative or non-custodial sentence in revision proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court held that its revisionary powers under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code are confined to correcting errors of legality, correctness, or propriety, and do not extend to substituting sentences or considering substantive issues such as alternative sentencing, which are matters for appeal. The only correctable error identified was the trial court's failure to consider the period the applicant spent in remand custody as required by section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court found that the applicant was in custody for fifteen days before being released on bond, and this period should have been deducted from the custodial sentence imposed. Consequently, the...
Court Disposition
Sentence revised to deduct 15 days spent in custody; application otherwise dismissed.
Orders
- The prison sentence imposed on the applicant is reduced by fifteen (15) days to account for the period spent in custody during trial.
- No further orders as to alternative or non-custodial sentence.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
Mwambi v Republic (Miscellaneous Criminal Application E006 of 2023) [2023] KEHC 17598 (KLR) (11 May 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 17598 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Voi
Miscellaneous Criminal Application E006 of 2023
GMA Dulu, J
May 11, 2023
Between
Joshua Mwakazi Mwambi
Applicant
and
Republic
Respondent
(From conviction and sentence of the Criminal Case No. 433 of 2016 at by Hon. A. M. Obura (Mrs.) (CM) at Voi)
Ruling
1. In this matter, the applicant has approached this court through an application for revision of sentence in Voi CM Criminal Case No. 433 of 2016 for stealing by servant contrary to section 281 of the Penal Code.
2. The applicant relies on the following grounds:-1. That he was sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment without fine which was extremely harsh considering that he was a first offender.2. That he has a young family which is depending on him and his staying in jail is affecting their life and right to education.3. That the learned Magistrate was harsh in sentencing him without a fine.4. That he humbly prays this court to grant him minimum sentence. More so non-custodial sentence.5. That he humbly prays this court to grant him minimum sentence for this offence more so direct the period he spent in remand custody be considered during computation of his jail term pursuant to section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
3. When the applicant appeared before me, he stated orally that he was asking for alternative sentence.
4. The learned Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Sirima on his part informed this court orally that the applicant was lucky to have been sentenced leniently for theft by servant contrary to Section 281 of the Penal Code as the statutory sentence was seven (7) years imprisonment.
5. Counsel stated that the Magistrate took into account mitigating factors in determining the sentence and the applicant should consider himself lucky for the lenient sentence.
6. Counsel stated that though the applicant had not demonstrated illegality or impropriety, his request for application of section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code may be considered as he was in custody for 15 days during trial having been arrested on May 25, 2016 and released on bond on 9. 6.2016 which period may be reduced.
7. Having considered the request of the applicant herein it is a request for exercise of this court’s revision powers under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code, on which I am not obliged even to give the parties involved audience. In my view this court’s revision power under section 362 are not as wide or the same as the power in an appeal. They are limited to correction of obvious errors relating to correctness, illegality and impropriety of the orders of the Magistrate’s court.
8. In the present case, since the trial Magistrate’s record shows that she considered the mitigation, the issue of alternative sentence is a substantive issue that can only be considered by the court on appeal, not in revision proceedings.
9. In my view, the only issue that can be considered by the court herein in its revision jurisdiction is the issue of whether section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code(cap.75) was complied with as there is no mention of its consideration during sentencing by the trial court. As such the trial court was in error which can be corrected by this court in revision.
10. I will thus exercise this court’s revision powers under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code and hereby reduce the prison term imposed by the period of fifteen (15) days within which the applicant was in custody during trial. The prison sentence herein is thus reduced by fifteen (15) days.
11. The prison sentence of the applicant having been reduced by 15 days in accordance with section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure code (cap.75), in my view the applicant can still appeal against both conviction and sentence on grounds other than section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, subject to complying with the revision appeals.
12. It is so ordered.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED THIS 11TH DAY OF MAY, 2023 IN OPEN COURT AT VOI.GEORGE DULUJUDGE