[2021] KEHC 2753 (KLR)
The court held that while the Supreme Court's Muruatetu decision does not apply to offences under the Sexual Offences Act, Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code obligates the sentencing court to consider the period an accused spent in custody prior to conviction. The record showed that the applicant was in...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 2753 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Siyat Mohamed Ali; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Garissa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Miscellaneous Application 97 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Miscellaneous Application / Resentencing Application After Conviction and Appeal
- Outcome
- Application partially allowed.
- Judges
- A Ali-Aroni
- Legal Topics
- Resentencing, Sexual Offences, Time Spent in Custody, Jurisdiction of High Court
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Siyat Mohamed Ali
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Miscellaneous Application / Resentencing Application After Conviction and Appeal
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to resentence after dismissing an appeal.
- 2 Whether the time spent in custody prior to conviction should be considered in computing the applicant's sentence.
- 3 Whether the Supreme Court's Muruatetu decision applies to offences under the Sexual Offences Act.
Ratio Decidendi
The court held that while the Supreme Court's Muruatetu decision does not apply to offences under the Sexual Offences Act, Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code obligates the sentencing court to consider the period an accused spent in custody prior to conviction. The record showed that the applicant was in custody for approximately three months before conviction, and the sentencing court did not expressly account for this period. Therefore, the applicant's sentence should be computed from the date he was first arraigned in court, effectively reducing his custodial term by the period already spent in remand. The application for resentencing thus partially succeeded to this extent.
Court Disposition
Application partially allowed.
Orders
- The applicant's 10-year jail term shall be computed from 23rd January 2017, the date of first arraignment, to account for time spent in custody prior to conviction.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT GARISSA
CRIMINAL MISC. APPL. NO. 97 OF 2019
SIYAT MOHAMED ALI...............APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. By an application filed on 15th October, 2019 the applicant seeks for resentencing based on Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. In his affidavit in support he urges the court to consider the case of Francis Karioko Muruatetu & Others vs Republic Petition No. 15 and 16 (Consolidated) of 2015 ( Muruatetu Decision).
2. The application is opposed by the State on grounds that this court has no jurisdiction to revisit the issue as it already rendered its judgement on appeal; and that the applicant ought to have gone to the Court of Appeal if dissatisfied with the judgement on first appeal.
3. The applicant was charged with the offence of rape contrary to Section 3(1) (a) (b) (3) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006. The particulars of the offence were that on the 15th of January 2017 at 10. 30 am at [Particulars withheld] area of Wajir South Sub-County within Wajir County he intentionally had carnal knowledge of KAB (name withheld) without her consent.
4. He faced an alternative count of indecent assault contrary to Section 11(a) of the said Act.
5. After a full trial, the applicant was convicted of the main count and sentenced to serve 10 years imprisonment.
6. Having been aggrieved by the judgement, he moved this court on 9th May 2017 on an appeal. This court found his appeal lacking in merit and dismissed the same.
7. In his written submissions filed in court on 13th January 2021 the applicant attempted to mitigate against the 10 years jail term. Further he sought to have time spent in custody considered and he placed to serve the reminder of his term on probation.
8. In its directions on the Muruatetu case issued on 6th of July, 2021 the Supreme Court clarified and explained further the judgement as not to include cases other than those falling within Section 204 of the Penal Code.
9. As regards to Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the same obligates the court to consider the time an accused spent in custody while the trial takes place.
10. From the record, in sentencing the applicant, the court considered several factors but did not indicate its consideration of the term the applicant served in custody awaiting trial and determination of the case.
11. The applicant was first arraigned in court on 23rd of January 2017. He was convicted on 10th April 2017. He was therefore in custody for about 3 months. A remand prison is not the best of places to be and three months therein is not a small deal. If considered it will certainly reduce the sentence.
12. The application therefore succeeds to the extent that the 10-year jail term will be computed from the 23rd of January 2017 when he first appeared in court so as to take account of the days spent in custody.
DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNED AT GARISSA THIS 14TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2021.
ALI-ARONI
JUDGE