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Tanzania Judgment

TZHC

19821202 TZHC Tabora1

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The appeals of the first and second appellants fail due to cogent evidence and corroboration of their involvement; the third appellant's explanation was plausible and he should have been acquitted.

Court disposition

Appeals of first and second appellants dismissed; appeal of third appellant allowed.

Orders

  • Conviction and sentence of third appellant quashed; third appellant to be released from custody unless otherwise lawfully detained.

02

Material facts

Parties

Ahmad Mussa

Appellant

Baraka Twalibu

Appellant

Theofil Msangula

Appellant

The Republic

Respondent

Amounts and remedies

  • Imprisonment Sentence (first and Second Appellants): years 5

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Third appellant argued he was an innocent buyer and made an immediate report after realizing the wine was stolen property.
Respondent
Respondent relied on evidence of witnesses and confession implicating first and second appellants in the commission of the offence.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Penal Code section 296(1)

    Conviction requires cogent evidence and corroboration.

  2. 02

    Judicial reasoning

    Immediate reporting upon realization of stolen property may indicate innocence.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The appeals of the first and second appellants fail due to cogent evidence and corroboration of their involvement; the third appellant's explanation was plausible and he should have been acquitted.

Obiter and limits

  • Juveniles convicted were committed to an approved school rather than imprisonment.

Court disposition

Appeals of first and second appellants dismissed; appeal of third appellant allowed.

  • Conviction and sentence of third appellant quashed; third appellant to be released from custody unless otherwise lawfully detained.

Source and reliance status

TZHC · 2 December 1982

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Judgment text

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Source document

TZHC

Judgment· 2 December 1982

19821202 TZHC Tabora1

IN ThE fIGT CTT CF TNAI'\

T

APPELLATE JTJSDICTION HIGH CCURT CRHT tL IP'rL NO. 105 OF 1929 C/F CRIItI\AL k 104 103 of i979 CRICTh L CR11 ITTjL 187 OF 197 8 OF THE DISTRICT COUF" C 1 ST.JLL LISCIICT T KASLJLU Before NUTONGOPE, Ee., Eistrict Iwgistrte AHMAD YUSj\ & OTHEPJ APPELUANT versus - THEflEPU31IC.......................... P-SPONDENt 1 CHJ'RGE Breaking jnto ouldang and committing felony therin c/s 296 (1) ae Penal Code Czp.

16. J U DdI'L E N. T CHIPETA, J. The three appellants, nasly,Ahmad Y ussa, Baraka Twalibu and Theofil Msang -ula were jointly ebargeilwith four others with the oftenco o. brecking into ç' building and committing a felony theroii c/b 296 (1) of the Penal Code. T.1i6ap11ants were convicted as charged and were!each sentenced to five years i:ipriso:iment. The other four accused persons were also convicted as charged, but as they were juveniles, they were comittedtO anapproved school. The ep . ellants, whose appeals have been consolidated, now appeal to this court. The appeals of the first and second appellants have no merit. In respect of the first appellant, Ahmad Mussa, there was cogent evidence that he was seen drinking the stolenwine in the bush. The watchran (P0W.3) testified eloquently to this fact. The evidence of 1D.C. jumanne (P.W.5) corroborated p.w.3's evidence, Then there was also the confession of Iddi Saidi 1 who was the third accused at the trial. He told the trial court that it was the first appellant who told him to go through a tunnel in order to break into the R.T.C. godowii. With regard to the second appellant, Baraka Twalibu, he was seen by PW.3 in the appellant's group drinking wine in the bush. Indeed, he was one of the people who restrained the first appellant fro assaulting P.%J.3 when PW.3 had seen them in the bush. In fact it was the second appellant who

offered a bottle of the stolen wine to P.W.3. Besides, Iddi Saidi named the second appellant to have, been in first appellant's company when the said Iddi Saidi was ordered by the first appeilnt to go through the tunnel. As for the third appellant, 'rheofil Msangula, the V. evidence against him was that the culprits sold him seven bottles of wine. His eDlanction was that he was an innocent buyer.. In my view 1 his explanation was plausible .for.he made an immediate report after realising tht the wine was stolen property.. He ought, therefore, to have been acquitted. For the foregoing reasons, t.ie'appeals of the first and second appellants, näe!y AhmadMussa and Baraka Twalibu must fail and are accordingly hereby" dismissed in their entirety. The 'apl d th third appellant, Thofil Nangui is hereballo'wed. His conviction is hrebr quashed and sentence set aside. He shall be released from custody forthwith unless qt.herwjs.e iawfully-detained.

JUDGEO Delivered in open court t s ?n day of December, 1982. T / . ... . . . '..

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Penal Code section 296(1)

Legislation

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