19901025 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Citation
- 19901025 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 25 October 1990
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 25 October 1990
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found the accomplice evidence compelling and corroborated, satisfying itself that the accused told the truth, and upheld the conviction and sentence.
Court disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- conviction and sentence affirmed
02
Material facts
Parties
Deusdedi Peter Mlasumuga
Appellant Counsel: Dr. LamraiRepublic
Respondent Counsel: Mr. ChizaAmounts and remedies
- Sentence on First Count: years 4
- Sentence on Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Counts: years 3
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether conviction based on accomplice evidence was proper
- 02
Whether evidence was corroborated
- 03
Whether identification parade was necessary
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Conviction was based on accomplice evidence contrary to s.142 of Evidence Act and relevant case law; evidence was not corroborated; no expert evidence to identify delivery documents; identification parade indicated lack of prior acquaintance.
- Respondent
- Trial magistrate believed the stories of the accomplices; evidence was compelling and corroborated; conviction and sentence were proper.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 142 of Evidence Act
Conviction on accomplice evidence requires corroboration
- 02
Case law and judicial discretion
Court may rely on accomplice evidence if satisfied as to its truth
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found the accomplice evidence compelling and corroborated, satisfying itself that the accused told the truth, and upheld the conviction and sentence.
Obiter and limits
- One must always guard against conviction on accomplice evidence unless corroborated.
- Identification parade may indicate lack of prior acquaintance between accused and witness.
Court disposition
appeal dismissed
- conviction and sentence affirmed
Source and reliance status
TZHC · 25 October 1990
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.
TZHC
Judgment· 25 October 1990
IlT T:-:E E-1IG;:-I COURT OF Tl-.HZJ.iD:.A Al?PELL.A TE Ji.J?..ISDICTl OH I-ITGI-! COuRT CEII•..J:ITAL liP?EAL 110. 64/09 no •.. 1367 G"..J"' 1900 0:UGl1J.AL CRlKii.Ti~L i,µ'.SE OF T:fil DISTRICT COU.:.1.T OF J:L!iLA nr::;T?.xc-:: iiT :avu:rn1rr Be:f-o::a.s Cha&i1::ocf :DM. Esq,, Diotrict l:'.ncintrcto DEUSDE.DI? PL"TER. Ml.l.SI:U,.I·JGA ; • • • • • • • • ilF2ELLAltl' . ..• versus • • • • • • ' • • • • ;J.ES?OlJDElTT -·- ...----- ...............-........ . ....... I h<K:i..'"'c: t1:.ia appeal on 19.10.90 c.m:: :lior.liooecl it ai;·. :the. end of' tfa.a 7.:.ot:'.rin:;. :r rcoorvcd oy r.cmoo!:'l i"or. c.oinc; no nrtd :C not1·· hereby give thooa ;r.<:3asons • Th~ .::ppollant 't·raa tried t:ogether ' 'With :tivo ot:lGl." :,ersona on a charg.e, contr1i1'1ine ZI. •obor •£ oounte·, •-- . ....,_. chargGd i:'l t:10 alt Gl:'l'l.a ti ve o.n.d while involvinz s one o'£ the ,' , aooused ••;·.10 C:id not i..""lvolvo a1l of thc1:1. All t:.!0 ot:"ler aoou~ocl W<ii~c ~cc.,;,uittcdf thG eppollc1.1t alor-:~ wao oonviot~d of' the offo:'looe cl'larced agai:not. hir.1. 'l'l-J.oso were otcaalii-1z by aer.v.ant · (count.
1) St·0alinG by ngont (oount 2, c:-,lto1.-•native to oount·. 1) and caking f''1lsc doc.m:1ents ( counts 5 - 6). llol101-ri:1g hiG contlctton o:-: t:1.000 above eou11ta ho wt10.. ocntonooc1 to four yGl.'l~. irnprioonr.ier..t on tl-:o :firot count and to t:-:-_reo yea::-o I i□pris.onr.ient.;. · on tho· .5th, 6th, anc1 7th o.ounto., sontot1c,co . to run. cen•u.-rentJ,y . . 1 Ho. appealed to t:-:.:ts c:;:our.t:, ond, na ohown abovo ,· hio appeal wao diamissocl. At t::o :1.earin1; o-£ tho appeal he wao !l:'01,rescmte.d ·by Dr. Lar.n-rai, lecirnocl advocate. l1r. Chiza, lcarnod State At.tor'J\ey 1· appeared £or tl-;i.o ~0public/TI.ospondont. ~le 1:1ain t!.0~1plaint.: ago.inst the co:.,.viction o-Z tho· uppellani; was thc::t it (tha conviction) was based 0:1 aoooo;;_)licG o.:-r....c!onoe, contra~ :it iiao conte1'ldcdd;o s.142 of' t::o ~vidonoc ilot and the decision ~n tho cnoo of S£i.J,uq.l10J1.aa0c1 __Y..~•..1:l~l1.2.~~1J-li,_C.!.:Q.;~_~Q.t That:; oviclenco wao ns :followo:... Tho appclla;.1.t w~o a r.oc.oiving c1erlc with Rujani ll'lc.i.uot:i:-ios hero in ~ar eo Gnlaao. Rajnni Industrios. 1 · . araongoo t . o t•.i.J.G.i;.. .,.,. .L:- 11.:.1i ngo, l)roo.uco · o di~o 1 o 01' l • v:...1. 1 _, ~ ~tr~ ,.. "" • ~~ oop.,.enacr, .1.9u"3. -• ... 2 ef drur.is/ oil were .being loc.dod onto lorr.ico .f1 6::1 tI.10 Port'; to tho 1 premioeo of' th<l i~ajan Inci.ustrico foctoF/• 'l':10 nocond accused (Twaha Mwnrobu), the th.ire.~ <Jcc,.rncd (Saic.i I-'~zi ~Ic.1obe), the :four.th aocuo ec1 (David Undolc M,.mlm. tika) wo:."'o nl::;o or.:1pJ.oyeos •O:f Rajani Inc...ustr:!.oD. They ,·Tore clor1~o 011.d on 15.
9. GO t~1cy WO:i. G 1 :· in the g~ou:) c::rnic;;ncd to trnnoport .oil .fr";-.1 t:10 :)ort- to R~jc.n.,.., A _ ~ \J~ Inc.us trios :)rcr.rl.000. The .5th occuocd (1';:c.i:::n1.la :r:ooa Hvuln) was · the clr.ivor. o.f t:10 lorry by which tho oil w~o being tz-anapor.t;0df the lo:rr.r, ao ahoun 1 ,;-ms !:.ired ""!"" fror.1 Jc,::;h:J1:.sd l:,ato,l. and th't' ·5Sh ecct.H30<l w::i.o an oqployoc o-Z Jnol:bhai P.:it.el. 'i'l1.o oixt!1 ac~aod {Hacidu Gullnin Bchc..ri) wns n bt::oineoor.mn in to-;·rn. Ee r.o.n a V businoso celloci. "Bahari ~ntcrprio.cs, 11 tho ap::,?ollant. He. waa ooel-::i1"1:3 to buy oil :for tr~nopoz-tin;'.::· to EH·anzo., . :-Io saicl the a~pellr:nt agr.eed to soll hi□ oil but o.'b. t:10 ti::10. ~k\ t-ront it,:. had not am.~ivod yet. The 6th accuood said :,.i"J i:.adc por pc.yr.1ent f'or. the · the appell£'.:1t. t0lo.ph~nccl !:1.ir.1 enc: tole: I~i,.1 t:~c.t tho oil l cld arrived ,m1(: ;.1.0 should. a:.. ro.ngc f'oi., tl:c :_)lace ·where it --;-rou cl bo 1 ef:f1oadcc1 • ~-fo ocici. ho told hi:.:1 ( tho c.ppo11a:1t) -the t i t w o to be I o:f:floo.ded at the sa.:.. 0.ge :_)roi:1io00 o:f Chri3·to:_:,~1or Lyi:.:10 (PWJ') 1 El. t·. BUG;"'UZ'Uni • Tb.e third and :fith nccu:rnc1 teoti:fi,d t::a~ 1-1:1en they wet-e '· ., bringine .30 c!r.ui:10 of o:i.l to ~ajc.n Induot:;:-ioc: on 011.c of tho trips. , ... there. fro:.:1 t:,.o Port, they ::ict the ur9oll,.:.nt a·t t!-ie
'l"'l.ZAl:?.A Rtation encl he wev·cd t::1er..1 to· oto;>, Tb.e :tif't~-: c.o.-:;u::;oc1 ac:id in hi::. evidonoe that -he d:i.d not Imow hL.1 but ti:.o third n:JoUoGd. to1c.1 hir:1 thct ho ( the o.ppclJ.ont) voo th0 r.0coi vine; clci"lt n t ~1o.j on Indus tr.ios • So tbey s.t·o:;--pod. Tho a.1_)pellcmt, they too·i:ii-Zioc1 1 cot onto the lorry o.nd told t:.1cr.1 t:1.ct · t:10 godown ot tl:0. ::.nj':!n Inc:ust:.--ico f'nctory was.: f'ull e1nc. so tl1cy ,10:r:-c to of'i'l.oad the JO <rum:.. of' oil elsewhere • . He ( the .::p:)c1lnnt) then led thcr.1 to l?~-TJ ':J ::;c,::."ngo. Thero tho druaa. · we:&l. oi'.f'loci.dod. Tho oi::::th cccuacC: n.::id. ~:.:'tor they wci"o of'f'loaqod at PWJ.·' a. ~;a.rnc;c t:1oy wo:t."C then deli vo~•od to !1ir:1, by the nppollant • He recciv.eC: thcr.1 c.nd sici1.od for thc1:1 in delivery doour.:1onts uhich the oppe11cnt ~roduccc1 •. They then ~cr~o~. {Tho dolivery do~ocntG. o.r.o. the oubj0ct r.mttor o:f· t!:c forgery counta). In tho nennti1:io at tho :kjc.11 Induotrico t~:c otmci"'o of tllc oil wcr.c. bocor:1ing nn.1tioua.. i"lhon the :!:if'th nccuoo<l o.:..":..:':i.-✓ ocl there. on onotI1or tr:L;: s t:-:cy iE1t:1o~ic toly conf1."01:.·;;cc: :-:i::1 c.n<.: no::oc! hin where, J' - 3 - :Folico;·.10:1. ,:-m:.. .0 c.asignccl 1 c.nc1. they went. to p:,;3 1 o gc..rcgo o. t :::::w;u:;:-uD.:.t. r_;_':1.cy :.:.:'Ot'cnc1 tlc.O dru;::10. of oi1 th.Ol."CI cm.C:
:!."'ccoverod ther:~. rlc 6th cccuccd s~id ho hod~ 1,,,,nt .,_,_0··1 J-·~o-.J... . o t·o-1·--0· :t ·.1."'o:.... t:10~, were to "IJo ti .nncported ... ~ri· 1-:r to 1 '-"I<' r.,i __ ,. 1.,,1...1,. , • .l.., .L-'-• ✓ - Mwnbzo.. :V,it Tb.e n·_,)_D_ o11c..nt.- , tho ,3rd, 5th n11d. 6t:1. ciccuood "t-Torc,_ tog_othor. with two oth.01."s who wore in tl-:c 3rou:1 t:..""8:1s::,-.o.:-ti:1e:; oil i'roin tho port·., offcncoo in t~io ~cso. \ The a.p?o11cmt 1 in :1.ia do~oi.'7.CO clct:iod cv-cr oto::,1>i:"1c; tho 31~ 011.d fiftl1 accuood on the . . -n:..y m1.d cli:;.... ocJ.;i::c; t::..,_0::1 -;;o PWJ r o: gnrago with tho oil. .fio. doniod over. nrrnnein:::; uit:'l 6th nocuood to ooll the. . .30 drt":1:1:J. of oil oithor.. Ho. c.oniod 1 :ti.::u:-:lly, delivering tho I ~~l to 6tL noouae.cl. Det'or0. i:10, Di... Laa1-mi ::;ub;:~i ttod the'; ~Jocidos 3\.c1 .5th o.nd i: ' 6th ocous.od beine nocoq;>1ic•:)O, nnc1 t;hnt t~ci;:, o,ridcnJo 't'tao not: corrobo,:atec', PW3 did not any ho snw the npc,cllc.nfh.:\t~a gar.agQ dolivcrin.c,· tho oil to 6th ncousod. C Ho oc::.id c.loo/ there\ ·wno no \ e.Xper.t, ev:i.denc6 ·co identify the. c.lol.ivory· c.locu.t:1ontz tho ~ppol.lant; is nl1eeed to i"J.o.vo hrmdod to the 6th ccc~ocd when, no: ulloga.cl and doniocl, ~he aI):;_x:3llo;.1.t dol:i.vorocl t:.1.0 c1rw:.o o:t oil to the~... 6tl1 that accus.od. Fi:1011.y, he orcucd/ .if' 0th nccuo oc: h~d r.1ot and lmovm . t!'lo. nppcllc.nt bOZor0 15.
9. DD, then t!io:i.."O wno no noo.cl :tor an ident:i.:tio·.:,tion par.ado. to be arrnn::;od fo:: hi1:1 to identify tllc appe.- llnnt. He oc.i.:: tho :fnct: that. an idcnti . :'iccd;ion pnrnde. had t.o bo- ar.r.nngecl for. tho 6th nccuc.cd to idcntiZ-, tho appollant wns incli ... c:ctivG c-f: t:-io f'c.ct t:12t. thc.o,o t-;,10 r..1on 'tv n~0 o.t:1.".angGr.G to each other.·· .:bcf'ore. 1.5. 9 • 03. Tl·:.o l0nr:;.1oc".. t:;.,i.::,1 ::mciotrntc 0oli::,vcc1 ti.10 otoi~ios ao ;;;iv~ by the 3rd, ,5th unc 6th accusocl 'pc:cs9no. Eo :E'ott-'11.cl on t1:a,m· th.ct; tho appclla.11.t hnd aJ."r.:.mcod to sell t:1.0 oi.1 to tho 6th accused ond th.c:::-c:for0 oomrictoc.1 hir.1. of' the. ac.s.o.., I too :torr.1od tho. on□c vic·:-r. I co:.'lsic1cr. the at.ories. as_ tole! by .t:.... o.oo accused por::;on::r as coq;_:,cllinG• Tb.o.y wor.e. of'. cour.sa. o.oo.oqi,_)licon, and one ho.a alwnyo to G,1.lc!rcl oi>e solf. _o.gainst.: convio,ti~ on o:o.o.O1:1plic.o. oviclcncc. u11-.1c::;s: it io o.o!"robornto.d. In thia cnao. ho:..-rnvor.-, r 01:1 :fully sntir.fioc1 1 li!co tho lccrned trial magistr.ato, that 3ro, 5t;l1. end 6th ucauscc1 told tho truth and the. cagistrctia oorr.ootly convicted tho q)pol.1cnt on tho basis 'of' tho::lr· oviclonc0.. The 0011.toncc ir.1poocc.l 't·101~c :10t o:.:coaciva and nr.o. lc.:Ct: uncli:rturbod. - 4 - Thes.o.: are, tho .'.i!Ocsons whi-ch ,:mcl0 pc clismios t::.c ~ppollnnt:1 o. appeal. ..... 2_5TH OC'i.'O:;J:CI1 1 1990 - .................J'"tJDGE. ...._........... _... ... ~ .. .... .J \ \
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