[2018] KEHC 4559 (KLR)
The High Court found that the sentence imposed by the trial magistrate was lawful and within the statutory limits set by the Forest Act. The magistrate exercised her discretion properly, considering the public interest in deterring illegal charcoal burning and the absence of prior records against the applicant....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 4559 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Simon Mburu; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitui
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 247 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Revision of Sentence, Forest Offences
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Simon Mburu
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Application for Revision of Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed for transporting forest produce without a permit was lawful and appropriate.
- 2 Whether the trial court exercised its sentencing discretion properly and in accordance with legal principles.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court found that the sentence imposed by the trial magistrate was lawful and within the statutory limits set by the Forest Act. The magistrate exercised her discretion properly, considering the public interest in deterring illegal charcoal burning and the absence of prior records against the applicant. There was no evidence that the trial court acted on wrong principles, overlooked material factors, or imposed a manifestly excessive sentence. The applicant's argument that a fine should have been imposed instead of imprisonment did not demonstrate any legal error or miscarriage of justice. Accordingly, there was no basis for the High Court to interfere with the sentence under its...
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for revision of sentence is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KITUI
CRIMINAL REVISION CASE NO. 247 OF 2018
SIMON MBURU........................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.............................................................RESPONDENT
(Arising from the Sentence in Kitui Chief Magistrate’s Court
Criminal Case No. 496 of 2018 by M. Murage C Mon 23/04/18)
R U L I N G
1. Simon Mburu,the Applicant by a letter received by this Court on the 25th April, 2018,seeks Revision on the sentence imposed for the offence of Transporting Forest Produce Without Forest Movement Permitcontrary to Section 52(1)(a)as read with Sub-Section (2)of the Forest Act, No. 7 of 2005.
2. This is a matter where the Applicant (offender) pleaded guilty at the outset and he is not seeking review of the conviction but the sentence meted out.
3. Section 52of the Forest Act, No. 7 of 2005provides thus:
“Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than fifty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
4. This is a matter where the State had no records of the Applicant. In sentencing the Court took judicial notice of what was in the public domain and stated thus:
“The offence is considered and the mitigation address. It is in the public domain that charcoal burning has been banned. I find that to deter others the offence calls for custodial sentence. Each accused to serve 12 months imprisonment. Right of appeal in 14 days.”
5. The principle of interfering with sentence by a trial Court was stated in the case of Ogolla s/o Owour vs. Republic (1954) EA CA 270where the Court pronounced itself thus:
"The Court does not alter a sentence unless the trial Judge has acted upon wrong principles or overlooked some material factors”. To this, we would add a third criterion namely, “that the sentenceis manifestly excessive in view of the circumstances of the case (R -v- Shershowsky (1912) CCA 28TLR 263).”
6. Looking at the law as aforestated, the sentence meted out was legal. The learned trial Magistrate gave reasons that prompted her to impose the sentence. It has not been stated that in exercising the discretion she acted on wrong principles or that the sentence was excessive. What the Applicant states is that the Court should have considered imposing a fine.
7. In the premises I find the application being devoid of merit. Accordingly it is dismissed.
8. It is so ordered.
Dated, Signedand Deliveredat Kituithis 27thday of August,2018.
L. N. MUTENDE
JUDGE