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Tanzania Judgment

TZHC

19931208 TZHC Dar es Salaam

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Professional case brief

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The trial was fatally flawed due to non-compliance with Section 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code after a change of magistrate, resulting in prejudice to the appellant. The conviction and sentence, as well as the order for immediate restitution of the iron sheets, were quashed and set aside. A retrial before a different magistrate was ordered.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed. Conviction and sentence quashed. Order for restitution set aside. Retrial ordered before a different magistrate.

Orders

  • Conviction quashed
  • Sentence set aside
  • Order for restitution of iron sheets set aside
  • Retrial de novo before a different magistrate ordered

02

Material facts

Parties

Appellant (Unnamed)

Appellant Counsel: Mr. Lipild

Complainant (Unnamed)

Complainant

Republic

Respondent Counsel: Mr. Lemandu

Amounts and remedies

  • Number of Iron Sheets in Dispute: 60

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal Appeal / Appellate Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant argued that the trial was irregular due to failure to comply with Section 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code after a change of magistrate, and that the conviction and order for immediate restitution of iron sheets were improper.
Respondent
The respondent maintained the conviction and order for restitution, arguing that the evidence supported the conviction and that the appellant was not prejudiced.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Section 214 Criminal Procedure Code

    Section 214(1) and (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code requires that when a new magistrate takes over a trial, the accused must be informed of the right to have witnesses resummoned and reheard.

  2. 02

    Section 214(2)(b) Criminal Procedure Code

    A conviction based on evidence not properly recorded by the magistrate before conviction may be set aside if the accused is materially prejudiced.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The trial was fatally flawed due to non-compliance with Section 214 of the Criminal Procedure Code after a change of magistrate, resulting in prejudice to the appellant. The conviction and sentence, as well as the order for immediate restitution of the iron sheets, were quashed and set aside. A retrial before a different magistrate was ordered.

Obiter and limits

  • The magistrate herself admitted confusion and delay in the proceedings, partly due to her own absences and those of the advocates.
  • The trial court should avoid unnecessary delays and confusion in future proceedings.

Court disposition

Appeal allowed. Conviction and sentence quashed. Order for restitution set aside. Retrial ordered before a different magistrate.

  • Conviction quashed
  • Sentence set aside
  • Order for restitution of iron sheets set aside
  • Retrial de novo before a different magistrate ordered

Source and reliance status

TZHC · 8 December 1993

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

TZHC

Judgment· 8 December 1993

19931208 TZHC Dar es Salaam

IlJ TD :s::, Gt: OCT.LT CF T.:Ji::-3..J;L_ JUDGE::11:T - - · - •..••• .. ••r••- T;ie o:.:t:iolJ.. ·.l1t JlJ'C.".3 T....I..10 1r~ s o:...~'2G~c.1- wit:.:. encl co::viotoa. of the Off enco oi ,~;teclil1G 0/s 265 of -;;1-.c ?c;.1,2J. Cocte. TiJ.o t:.•ir,1 oourt prooeeded t,.;.1c~c~ t:10 IJl'Oit:i.sio:.'lS of s. 226 of t!:i.c Cri;;.1incl P:..•ooedv.ro . Let 1985 o.fto:.' ~1 cJ.l0c;0d f 0-iluro 1)? t)..1.0 c~p0ll,J1t to ::-:_)~)oC.:? in oourt M o::.:-de:.•cd. Follow-inc the col1V:i.ct:i.011 :.10 uc..s s0:1to;.1occl iio a dischm-[;o ooi'lCl:\tioncl 1..1.pon his no;.1 - co:lllittcl of otLo::, o:Zi'c:.1oes for a po:::.•:'.ocl oi' o;.10 year. ~10 ti•icJ. Ooi.L,t fu::..•t::.cr 1:1r.cLo r.:.1 o:...<l.er for l'esto:::di:'.on .rit!1 iwr1edide effect of t:10 Go ii-on s::oots, the subject of t: .0 s:-:j_c1 stco.lin[;, to t:,.e ooi.!pl,,i.nc'llt one ~Jb~ cxtl'oo Swai., Dist-,t:'.r.;1'~.ca. t:ie r,p:pellr.11t is ~.,::.10din:; .c.=;dnst t: .c oo:rviotion Md tl1e o~clo::.:: :?o~? il.:E.edic,te '.i:'esto:r: .tio:.1 of t:,:.c i:;_,on s::,cots to tao oomplninr.at. J.C• I do not fL'ld. it nocossr.1' _· to nc~-:.•:.:to i:..1 cletcJ.l t:C.c: f1.1J.l f,~cts lend.in[; to t: .o C:;;):}ellcnt rs ~;~:?est, c::.i ...:?_,o c·.110.. ov:::mtu:J. oo:1.Viotion. It I me,;r s._-,rn,r.1..:.::1i,~0 thou.gl1, tho fc.ds ~.eiof'ly c;o a8 f ollo·:mi- Tb.rt the co~J)lc..iiu.---.nt hes 8.. plot no. 12';7 Dlock G situ:·to

c,t T. lie.ta a:rea, D2J.:- es 3cl.t'.r...:-:i. On 10.5.90 l:.o ontl'"~'.Stccl ltls oont:-~.cto~ ,rith iron sheoto fo~ j_)tU--posos of fm."T:'il1u t>o o.::-~;ie to t:).e plot ~1 question. T:.:.o u_,on s;.ieets never l'or.o:1cd t:10 intendoc". dost:t..1:..·.tion, • Re xepo~?tod t:.·.o :..i::-,tter 1r:i.t2 tho ~)olioo c.:i.lc'I. t\ so:x,:-ol: lT::::i mot:ntod. · 1..fter vicit:..:1c.; one or tuo plr-cos i;.1 sec:-.::o:.-. of t!10 st;;..ic, t>.c soc.rah pa...---ty eventi.1.C.J.l~r e:i.dect up d r.lr..11:,;cso. Ono 3nidi is sc:ic'!.. to ;}.o,Ve led tllc police (DC :.00di r..nd ◊J?l• illicJ;j) to 1lr1.J.1:.;osc c;'i; :.: . 08:dcwi house. .:..t t::.o :;.ouso t:1ey i:1ct c. c,ctc-,i:.1 :-.'O:L'son 1r:.10 tole. t>.0:.1 tlle:;:-e uore iron o:.J.cotn ~~oucht therein l;n.t t:.'.d t:10 s:-ne >.-:.<l. si:.100 ~;0on shifted to 2, 11oic.,~J.~Jou.ri.i.1G · 1iou.so w:.:~•c t~·-:::'.!:.:o is t:, sl:.op o~r:.1.cd 1;:~ one Da,vid Ki,.1::--;i:'o, · ... ,/2- - 2 Tb.e said Dr-,vid. ICiL1u!'o is scid 1:0 h:-,vo told then thd t:::.c iz,o;o. sheets t110:::0i11 ;;elonged to one J\-,:i.:ro - t:.,.o a:ppellc;.,t. I.i.1 t:.,.e arsenoe of t:~.o 2~_12_,ellc.nt the bm,1.Sc wr-.z s·02:,:-ol;.ed 2Xlcl Cio i:;_,on s:.:.eets . allegedly lJelon:;inc to the cor·:;,lc.i11r11t kl;:011 the1.~efror.1. T.'.·.o;;, ~ook the s,:.uc to Bugu,rv.ni Pol.'.ce Stc.tion uli01.•e tl:e cm~)J.r.:J.:.1 ..'.i.Tt is said to ~c.w icl~1tif

ied t~e s ?,De rn lJ.is ].->:i.'O}?ert:;o It is :{;1 evidenoe furtb.ax tad; t:10 awell2.l'lt wD m'Testec.l r.t :Ju(,U,j_•uni Polioo Sto,tion where he hc,d cone to j:'eport tll~;t the 60 h•on sheets td.:011 fro:Jl Kima.ro 's plc.ce a.re his ·P:iX>l)erlye Go:L11c, tl. :ough the tric:w. oou::.."'ii ;;:ecoJ:d it is o,pp;:-zc:;.-i.t t::,d there a.re a numi)o:o: of f ea.tuxes showinG th::,,t the a1:>pollc.nt w::-..s not c,'i-..re'h a. f ru.r tr5.oJ.. On the first plc.oe it is Ol3:;:_• tl1at tho o:i.so W8.S initiaJ.ly hero:~ iW one t1GGistr2,t0 (Hiss Th.'1dr.y-BM) wl10 1t:·.o e-;rentually transferred oi'to1· :recording the evidence of three p:ro:::emition witnesses. tn1en tcld.nc CNo~, the suoceed:i.l'.!G l-L:.[;ist:.:-de does not :-i~110,2 to have applied tho 1~07isions of s. 214 ( 1) F'.llc'L' (2)(a) of t:10 Cbi;-1i.noJ. Pl'ooedJ.i..1.~e .'.:.ot 19G5 whioh :r'ead.s M follor;rJ:- t. 11 2140( 1) :niere 2.:ny' ],h3ist~:2,to, cft0r h1;1,vil1r.J l,.e,·.::d. o.na. reoor:d(;)d the 1-1hole on coy pr..rt of t:i.10 av:i.dence in D.tlY tricl o~ conduct0c1~ in whole o:..· l)~-ti any oomraittal 1):rooocdi1-i.cs i:3 fo;:: c.;.1~: :...·o:--.son u.nD.ble to complete t:~.c- tz-ia.l 01· t:.~c ooJI:ri.t:-:Q procoedinc;s or: JJ,c, is t'.11~1:,le to oon1}letc t:1a trfr,l or oomu:tttc-J. p::.•ococdi11..:;s uj.t>:L1 e, rensonr.1Jle tir.10, c.not:.\O:i? w::cist:-r,to 17::ao :ici:i , end who ezej.~oisos

jw:-isdictio1:i- m.:~,- k2:e over: and oont:tnue or: t::;.0 t:;:-in.1 OOillilittcJ. 1,;:oooodings as t:ie cc.se. nay 1)o ma tho r.1...-,,,:.;ist:;:•c~-bo so taking over may act on th0 cVidenoe o~ 1)20cocclil1r; :reco:i:-ded 1Jy his predecosso:i: ~1cl, ;~i::,;y- in t;J.o 02.sio ot a trial re-summon tho 1ritnosscp 1:>.ncl :,:,eeom:.10nco the trial er th0 coramittr.,J. l)~Oooodin[;s ol' ot';:o;:'iriae subject to subsection (2). (2) ".J.1erever t.b.e J?rovlsi011 of sul,seotion (J.) a:.:_:,plies ( a) i11 a.ny t:..•ie.l t;:.c 2.CCttscd Lla3r, u:.\011 t:2.0 suoh ot1:i.e:r ~istj;'c,to oo:.traonces b.j.s 1,z-oaoed~fl'S 1 deiik""1J.1d tll~),t t~.,.0 1rit110sscs on c..11~· of t:.iem be re-sm;i~GC! 4UL1 ;;.~G--JiGo..i.---d and S:: .c..ll ~;o Wormed of SU:oh richt i):7 t;1e othel" lI..\~__,-b.:ox:to 1,.lle.n he ~il0J.1oes l'd.s IlJ:'oc00d.i11t.,r.&§. 11 • 3 ii.11d. unde:-...· S,21.:t (2)(b) of th 1 scl:10 ..'..ot t~w ITie;]l Cotu:-t r.ic.;;· "bot a.side c111y cond.ction }.K:DG...,"'- 0,1 evide1100 not u~.i.olly I'COOJ:-ded by the L. ,gist20.t0 :)cf ore tl10 con0..otion .:recs i1c..d., if it is of ;he opinio~1 thd tao 2..cc-.'lJJod ?.1.2;9 °lJoen m2,te1•iaJ.l~ _pz-cjudiood tho:re~)Y r.J1d L1ci.:;· o:,.'doj_• c-. new In tl1e inst~:.nt oc.se it is c·: J['J:' tl:o;ii t: ..0 Lii.to':·.~::idi11f.; N..·-,cist:::-r,to could have ad.cl:i:-oss0J. :.:.o...:- 1:1lnd -~o i-;.1.0 alJov-0 o:.;:i;ocl

lXi.'ovision on 11.c.92 before she oven ~Jecnn roco1·, 11.nt:; tho eviclenco of P::4. Secondly, I r,.=i"-'oe vri th the n..1'.)mission r:1..:.de by Hr? Lipild t:_:;.r,t . followinc t>.o t::.•c'.J1sfer of l\iss Kh::tday ~:-::: then tl10re foJ.lo,rca. c. nur.:ibor of r..cljoti.:."lwients whic!J. raust h2:v·0 oonfusecl the c\;_):,)ellc..iit t For 0:im.raplo on ~--12690 in the :prcsonco of thJ 2.J?pelln.nt t:.o oc..se 1ras set fox mention on 2.1091<> The roooz-cl tl1011 is silo.:at M to ·w'hat hc1i:r2011cd 011 this de.to ( 2~ 1 ,,91). T)e 02,130 houove:i.· o::;.18 UJ.) uea,in on 4s 1. 91 1i10n it liU8 Sv ~ .L'.f..' hcz..:1c o;.1 4. 2., 91 when it iTc.'3 O.C,'D.in adjourned f o~ hoc.:r-inc 011 3.. 3.

91. Ilut t>.c record is t..c;·ci:1 silent as to whnt llci1J?oned on this dc:.te ( 3. 3. 91), Ins tor.cl. ti~c o:.:.::rn C[uue I ~ for mention on 403 .. 91 w:J.cm it 1-rc.s Got for heo.rin.:-; 011 11.3.91. It is sioutior..i.1t to note h01~0 th:.--.t 0:x:Q®t ,f07.' 4.1 e 91 ~1c.l I;-. 2. 91 the app0J.I:.'-"-1t u-.s 1.·acoroe'd to h:::vo ~:;cc;.1 1):;:,ccc11t on t:::.oco ot::.or• do.ys 1 1-r:•~io:\ b r~1 indicdion th..,t :10 wcJJ trj-:U'lG to follo,r 1-r::..::.t was hn.l)J.)G1Ull3 in oou..:;:-t. Indeed ev011 011 stfJsec:uont cl.doc t~ .c magistl"r.to cvc:1 conceded thr.t ins].)itC of t:.-:,.c freg_ucnt '---.djm.'.:.'ni-~ts the a.ppellr..:.1t 1ro-..:ld still OOiJC to cotti:-t to 1010w the 1,osit:'.0~1 of his • oru:ie. T'.L1.o rnc-.(}.st:i."'2.te adr.1ittcd so on 27 .1 .92 uhen she a2,elo e.11 order thus "Ls t~:.e aoct1Sed h,:.s 1)een cotlill.':;" to oot\-::-t :,:,ecuJ. ...-.:i:-1;;=- e-.ro:1 after the judl,"'raent of sot Mide the orclej_.. :fm.' j ..i.d(;.:1ent,. n I IIowever tho 110,.-r::t or unf ortunD.te pr..i.'t of the oonfusin(: ck;bc of a.:f'fa.i:rS happened 011 16.fi,.• 93• On this date t;.::.c C.:i.Jl)ellv.nt uas l)Z-Csc:at 2.nd made a submission to tl1e effect thv,t his advocri,te hnd t:r2.vollcd. to Ubeya. The CO'l..1:.~t houevo:r D..::.Jpem:-cd to disboliev-0 M rn when tac ILt;ist.'de said and reco1-clcc.l in t:.10 proceodlllGs s owet}1i11.:; to the off cot t:::.d

t:1ct inforrar:tion 001.D.d ju.,st not be true ~s ~:.~c J.o.nd seen t: . c .--.dvoo::t~ . that mo1....1ilt, ..:J.011::,· the I'.i.d-:·. Cou.:::-t 00:;:-1,ic~o:;~s.. Thon ti-.0 Ik-c:iot:.:-de went on to i·.d;:;0 t'.:lc follo1ri11c; o:rdeJ~Z- 11 3ocond].y a,s t~ .ir:: er.so is 11.1 old one nna. it hr,s 1)oCn .:-,<ljoui··necl fo~~ sovo:..'rJ. t:J_;:ios 1:>00~'..t1.Se of the 2.bsenco of tl~o c.cct1Sed 0,cl:voc:_.t3s in i:lOllY oocc.nsions n.nd sooetit1cs n~:-sclf uecc,usi, 0 of fJOT.lo ot:.1.er cl:.·,:tiGo I am nssie,nccl in t:1.c :·~:i.cJ.-:.. Cot'.It 2110. ;.C ..:c t::..o a.ocused. ! s n·.,_•.:-, j;' J· er fo..,...,_ .--.P. ·,o·•;.. ,., 0 C..."\.A.v . 1.. ... ~ • • --...,_ .. .,. . ,··,not i'" "lloTrod ...,_,,_.. ,Jv 4,,.., • t 4 I t:::.1.i.s adjOUJ.--n fo-:.: 301:ic fem :Jinutes to cJ.lo::- t::.c c.cetWed to t:..•2,oe his e..a.vocr te ct t~.:,c Zic,:.1 Gou.rt~ tt J,a.ter d 1. 00 DtID4 thc.t sni:10 le.:- it 0-1)1)02.:i.'3 t~1e c..:ppoll:'..}:lt :,.e,d not managed to :::-eJoi--t be.ck £l,t th(, Co1.1.-;:-t uit>. M.s c..dvocc,tc c..11c1 so -&:le Oow.--t l)rooeodo·,1_ to L.Kuco c.i."l o: 'Cle~ fo~ c10live:ry of juo.;::,::.io::1t &.1 1O. 5, 93• :·:'bile holrever t::.o juc1.Gi11<mt w<lS not d0liv0:·ecl on 18.. 5. ~ 3 c.B oci•lier set, it is olo['.j.' t;.1c,t there m·o 0110 o:.· two a.nomcJ.ies i:.1 t:.:.0 o:--del' 0 &f 16.4.93. T>.o l:Io,eistr"~tc ::it:rita cler.:/'.~p t:1d t::e

blc..-:.10 fo:- the severru. cljO-l.\:.'lt-1G..1t uc.s j_)2.:;:-tly on :1or otrn fc.ilti.:..•e r..ncl t:·.d of t:ie ·edvocr.teo Ii' t~o mc.cisti•r.to wr.s r.lco. to i)lr,:ie tli~n u>.:· s:'..:.~:ld the o.p)?e.1J..ant a:..a-..::J.to:i:- all the I'CS~onsi~;ilit:"1 .;,not;;.er c.1.1oucl~· is the fa.ct whe-'1. t.c or.so u2,s c,djot1.J.."'l'led fo~.• soz.10 f m·r m:i111..1tc:::; 110 s:;_,ooifio time wns aosi;:;1ocl on set f Ol' the c.J1:;_icll[·.:nt to .rej_:)oz-t ~)t:o1.:: c.-:.,01.1.t 'the whereabouts of !1is citvo cct 0. In ·00l1olu.sion, wl1e11 cll t::..'1..0 n~Jov-0 f 0r.tl"(L•e~ Ll'e t:-J.;:0~1 toc;other it beooBos alee.:..· t:1,,t tno ~JJ?ellc.nt m:-..c t,.."1t,,hly t:c-ec.tod :):- t:.::.e trial 001.r-:'ii. ~1 t:10 justic0 of this o~.so r.. ncu tj_'.'iru. ~ro·~D.o. ~)otta:r serve the 11\L1_)0,'1Ct :~coOJ:"dinGlY the tJ:ic.J.· oou:,:at. :fY.i:'00~1:;r~ t'..ilcl oonviction c..:-o (Jll.?.S!lod Slld ocmtonco set Mido. ..:.J.so ·t:.~o o.-:c1..<l'.i.' for xGStox-c,tio.1 o£ t:.io ~'1 sheet& to t:le,. .QlliJ?l~,in:.nt 1r.i.t:.·. ~.incdic.te affect io sot wSj_de, ::. t~ic:il de novo 1)of 0'.::'0 a .diffe:.:-0:.11.. l:U'.c;-'.....etJ:o.te is orocrccl '-000.·~l'lGlY• JJ1 ~~ io ·c,void ~'ll'l~sw•:· lJC".otG; If tiIJe it is ,Q.i.:.,~~ <t~t the ti•it'J. s:.:-.ot1.lc1. ~-0 i..."tlti1:.tod :·a aoon cs ).)<)Ssible. i:uwi.nc m.,--,ci.o t:1.0 c.1~ c.eoisiori./0~0~: I do not f ina. it 11oogo38..7Y to dec.J. uit::. a.-i ~1Sider tb.~ often i8s1.:0 ;;.•r..ised ~:p ~·.;:1.Gel.4e• 1i'hetll~ ~i~ not iJI:.e .6o L.---on c ~ lfe.:i.--O ide:u;ifiod to ~Jc. ·t:~ 11~perty rJ-x ~ ~)l;.i::~",,,.'rb, J'v1DGZ c.12.~ ~i~ed Mr. Ln.and.:!.-~ ~- ~11lj.e rit-. ~iki: :Cl. ~.:i.e ~Di)e J.w.1t. . J. ::, .1:IBOF:lr~l

JUDGD

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

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

Section 214 Criminal Procedure Code

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Section 265 Penal Code

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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