19890914 TZCA Mbeya

115.:::;l; Dill X; TOR 0::1 PUBLIC PROSl!JCUTI OHS g i'UKUL:~ :r~it:.ND1.JNGth • o o 000000 0 • • R:TI;,5PONDENT (i~pp0nl fron tho Ruli:i.1g of tho High • Court of T2-nzr.1.nin ~.t l':!boyn (IJJtcnga.2 J.) dn ted tb.0 12th cl2.y of Doc o:11b0r, 1988 in Nisc,, Econooic Crime i.pplicc,tio;.1 ifo o 109 of 1988 J1JDG:i!l-1TIE T OF rr;:-:.,~ CGu.R.111 Tho respondent Nr::u1;. l\L'JJ:OULGTJ is c. Bunmrli rfr,,tionn.1 residing in thi:,t cou.iycry' o c2.pi t2.l Bujuabur~,~ nncl is tl1e 01-mor o1 c.. motor lorr<J registrc'..tior:. !.'loo BD 1339 whic!1 wc--,::; i;_,,volvcd in Ifooyc., Toonomic Crimes Co.so no. 1 of 1.988. In tll~t c,wo tlio respondent's clri--ror one ICT:Jrni~ SLIDI IC~r:x-:ra=:1:;:;; wn.s chctrgocl with vc.rious offences under the Economic and Org~~nizod Crir.10 Control llct 1984 nftor ho wns arrested while ferrying n lc.rge ar.10unt of olop::.~2..nt tucks in t!:c said lorry. Upon his co;.,.vic·~ion, t~:o Court ,:1,vlo n forfoituro order in respect of the lori-y und.er section 78 ( 1) (cl.) of t:.~o Wildlife Conoerv.::.tion Act 1974• W!1m1 ·c1~o rooponclont llo.:-:.rcl of' tho f'orfei-ture of his lorry in T.:,,nz,::min 5 he cn.qo ;:,;:cl lodged an e.pplict.,tion for restorc..tion of his r.1otor voI::.iclo u.i1dor -~!10 provisi:m of soction 78 (2) of the sai"Je ilct. Ho locl6 oc1 this npplicD.tion in t~1e sone Court which mcd0 tb.o forfei turo order ,1c.;1oly t!_'.e Ecm1onic Crioos Cou:ct 2..t Hboyno On tho respondent's instructio;.1, r:Ir. :Mwa:.1golo, advocc.,·co filocl cm affidn,vi"i; in support of t).::.e ::i.pplict'. tion in which ho stntocl t.':nt tho responclent clid not know ' . th::-..t 0:,10 iJGifu who l~.e:.cl ~:ired t'-J..l.\.i. . lorry for the purpose of ferrying lU.S goods 11a::1cl~; 'W.l.loo.,t to Bujumbur.:1. 9 WOlllcl_ USO tb:e Gi.lL.10 lorry to ferry illeg2.l cargo cmd t!.12..t therefore t:lo Court stould rescind its ordor of forfeiture ;:10,<lo on 3rd Soptrn'1bor, r9G8 and release tho lorry to h:L":1• ••• /2. i • 2 r relevL1.nt f2..ctors, 2.11 order ao pr"'yod -~o sot o..sid.o such orcler n.nc.l rostoro t:i.o lorry to t:::o rosponclo;_yl; woulcl be perverse in 1::-.w, projudici2,l ·;;o '.;J.10 intorosts of i/:o U,1i·;;ccl Republic ;'..l").c: .::.. _sotbnck in -~ cn;:10 to t::cc ui1::-;.1.iDous conclusion t:.::.c.·[; t:.10 rcspomlcnt iimoco:.,tly hired his vcticlo tc t~~is S0i±'u w::o co11"~r2.ry to esgroc:::0n-l; clociclo(l to use tho vei~iclc for f0rryi1:.e illogr,l c;:;,rgo, t.:,'ct 8oifu c..n:: I¾}rnnzn. 3~idi co~,1mHtoc~ t:~is offence• in T:.nzani;:,, w'_ilc tho rospo:J.c~ont wc1,s in Bunmd.i 9 it wo.,s t:wroforo d.ilficult fer Lir.1 to :;J.1ow tl1::i.'.; 3oi:fv. c.,:1.c: l\Jfanza w0rc ferrying olcphnnt tu:::;l;:s in To.nz,·.:.1iµ, In tl~o ci.rc1..1.T.1T~::'.,:r.cos tLo Court l1old. tllat it is juct J.nd. oqu.i·cc.blo thp,i; t'.::.i:::: lor!'Jr BD 133) not be forfeited. S:J.,o Co~.rt sot 2,si'.10 ti:o order of forfoi<;1..:.rc i:l; .1.,nd nn.dc in rc;:ipcct o:f -:;!::.o rosponclont I s l_orry on 3/9/1988 o.;.1d. o;cl.orcd tb.c..t it be rostered to hi□• L. 6 s..inct this orc1er t:::.u Republic c.ppoc1lod m1cl filc:l two· grounds . ' 11n:.10J.y~ ( 1 ) ·(:L:.,:i,t t:~e lo.--,1~11,1d. ju,:1.i:;o orrecl. in 10,w in rcviowing or pu.rpo.i..'tinJ to r(.rvio,·1 J,iD mm onl:::r of" :forfei turo r.t::.cLe in Thcno:.1ic Grine C,,sc J:foo 1 of 1938, (2) T::r.i..t tho le.:-,n:.ccl judge crrod. Lr law in c1p:)lyi11g t::o provisiom; of soc·cion 78 of Wildlife Con~crviJ.tion Let 1974 whicl1 rol-::.to to forfeiture to a11 ~coner;:ic Offence., or,ler of fo:r:foitur'o rcspoctir.,_G t;:o ;noter v0.'.1iclc Rq;istrntion no. BD. 1339 bo r0storodo lccrnocl juc\,;o boccl.iJC :ftmotuo officio c-.,3 soon ns 120 ll,:'..d r.1,-.,llo tho order revise or reco,.rnid.o:r sc...::c orc.ler o only ro;:1cu.3,, open to ·iLo responlent was to appeal o.gni;.1ct t110 order of forfoituro .. ( 3 First, wo do not sec l1ow t.'.~o rosponc.lunt could llc..ve 2.ppc2,locl ngn.inst t~o orcl0r of forfoiturc w~:.on :.:.o w2..s .10t D, po..rty to tl10 proccoclin::;s b Thonor.1ic CriDo Ci1..s0 iJoo 1 of 1988. Secondly we think Nr. Tcc;:1be, 1 s sub:.1issio.1 is contr,~ry to t]!O (JXprcsr~ worc':.inG of soction 78 (2) w.1.1ich :;12,lcos provir:ion fol' t.:10 ow110r of tl:o vohiclo' to c.pply to tl,e: Court not to nnko a for:2oi turo ord.0r, in t::c so.no ;:10,nne:r 0.,11 ownur c,:n r,pply to t::.0 Coui't to se:t a.sic.lo its order ;::i::-.,clo J • boforo. J •• lG vo.'.:.iclo 1-r:·\s invc.lvod in s01:10 crir:.1in2..l G.Ctivi tyo In s1,1.pport of grcu.ncl i'To.2 of npp00,l, r1ro ':i:'oor:1bo, conccclod. t:12..t· tho - ''-- Ropubl ic c:.icl not in t:.-w Court ;)olow op~_)OfJC thr.~t ~,pplice:hon for cb.ango fron iwction 23 of Let 13/84 to ooction 78 (2) of tlJ.o WilclJ.ifo ConGorv0,tion "~ct, but llo conto:r..fLc6. -;;.'~?,t nll -~1,c s::,_,r:io t.'~o rosponclont' s ap~11ic::-,tion W<'.G wrcngly brov.g~,.t lm,for ·c.'··_,) :)rovisiono of tl10 Wildlife Consorvce.tion Let. IIo argued t~~c,t ·;;::ir:i b0i11c o,n cccn0:-1ic offcmco brought unclor tho Econonic P..Y1c'l CTi;:::,:;.1.iz:)rl Grine Control J.c·~ Uo. 13 of 1984 9 -elm np_plicntion s.l::.oulc:. hn,vu boon brougl:t unclor tllo provisions of t1:i:.d; .~c-;;, bcc::uso thr,t Let providus fully for its 01m prococlilro c1,11:l t.1' .-'.'.t in :i:;:~ct 1.mdor section 56 of t::o Le·:;, .?..11 ocono,:iic offcncos 0 rJust bo triod in -:,ccorc1,\i1c0 wi tb. tte pr:ovicions cf t~,o Lot. ITc a.dJ;_;:l howovcr t~,2,t t'.:iis o.p~Jl icc.tio;.1 w,:cn ii1crnTj,,otout w~:o·t::or lJrouZ:1t ' under section 78 (2) of tl10 WiLllifc Coi:.LlOI'Vntio:.i i~ct or ocotiG11 23 of t~:w Econonic f'.l1Ll O:rg:::.i1izocl Crino Contr<;l "~ct 1984 7 bcc:::'..uso unc:.cr □ action 78 (2) such c.7.ppl icr-.,tion r:1m::;t be brou[;'J:.t b0fcrc -~>0 orLlor of forfei t·uro is ::12,clo ,.,,:.:'..ct. no oucll appl icQ.tion W'.;,8 co;:1to:-.1plntocl un~:or se:ctior3. 23. i.Dpocsiblo ~or ve'..:.iclo ownoro to rocov•Jr t!:cir vol_iclos cc.1.,~·ht l)oing usccl in: t~10 co:.u,:ission of ocoi1or:1ic off(;ncc:o. With rOf.li1oct • we t.I 1:.ink l.:iro 11100::ilx: is ocrroct on t!10 first lbb. Section 56 of t!:.e :::;conor.iic 2;;1cl Orgrn;.izod Crinc Control :.ct proviclcrH 56-(1) with off\,c-i; fror.1 tlio 25th clo..y of Soptonbor? 11 1984, -~>.o off onc,,s proscribed fa tL,o I'irst 2choclulo to t~1-is L.ct s~::.all be knm-m. m, ocononic offoncos o..:.1d trir',blo "b,y H,u Court in nccorclc\~1co with t:o provisio;.1s of tb.is Lot o tt. I , ..., 4 We tl .ink t11is subsection clor.,rly proviclos t!.1nt all ocoi1or.1i6 0 offoncor:J ous-(; b0 triccl in 2.ccorc1-,::.11C8 ui th tl:.o prcvisims of tl:o Let ;;.7, --ic1- t.'.:..fo L~. our view ir_cluc"Loc prc:c(_;duro 0 ovor1ii.1z -~ho :forfeiture of property involvv:l in tho cor:L:i:..::cion o:f oco::.10::.1ic cri::,os. Since t~10 Tooncuic cs.1cl Orgn.;.1iz<..d Con~.;rol ~'...ct 1984 lms i·to vim proviGions 5ovor"1.inc forf:,i turo, cf s1..1.c:1 prOi)(:r·cy, t!.1oro iG no rocn to bri_ng into 1.>ln,y- 2c-r:i:'c-i turo prcvisio:;:1s in ot!:-.or logisk;l;ionn oven if t!.:.oy aru r.,cx~ic:1Gd in tl:;o ;.ct ituolf c,s t~:10 WilcUL:'c Co::.·i::rnrvntion ;~ct is rnxd;ione,l in tJoction 16 of tLo :i.i)irot Sc.'.1oclu.lc to t~:e: I'cono;:1ic ..,.,-. ..:.I (...,_.1.L:. Crgc:.:;.d.zocl Cri::::o Control Act • I l:.c purpose for ::ontioning t.!J.o .\ct 11 bocccr.10 occ:wr.,ic crL:os trie..blo on.l~r 1...1..,.,.dor tl-;.0 provicio;.1s of ·cllc Act. Any orc1-ora of fo1~f,;.;H1..1.ro s~1ould be :.r.1c•,::.0 1.mdor t!:..o provisionc of tho Let not tJ.:-.c Wildlife Conservo.tion .:..c·c. Wo wis}: to Gtrooo t!.1is point bocc.uco fo:c:'.:oi turoo r.:c:clo unclor t210 ThoEoDic ancl Or8nnizcrl Grice Contrcl Act l:2-vo (1i2Zon)nt conuuqu.oncos fro::1 t210s0 ;:12..clc tmclor t:·.;o Wilcllif0 Consorvc;i;io11 ·:.ct• For iirnto.nco -~to :prococJ;3 of forfeitures 1-mdor tho conoolic'.,:-;(;od Funt: not L;.to t:,.o ge:::.o:rc..l Govcr11.r.1ont ruvcnuc; property forfoitoc~ u1.cc~0r t:1.c Too~10:.1ic cm: 0re;c.,,1izoc: Cri::10 Con;~rol :.ct cmmot bo· cold 10y Ft11Jlic c.uction? c,nrl p,;!'t of ·i;b.:i proce:oclo ob·c.".fr10d froD forfoi t,:;._l l)ropor·c~' under section 78 of' t~1c Wildlife: Co:1:iorv:1-i;ion Act n.:\y bo u::.ioc1- to pcy rowa.rcls to L,fcri:;wrc. In tl1oso circur.1ct~,cos t!10 Court c:·:.ould. 11...,vo r.:r~J.o t!·_e; forfci-',.;ti.ro orc1-or under section 23 (3) of tho ' . involvoc1 in t:,c oorr,ission of tho offc:i.1Co i·ri th .:.110 linb -~:':.a-:; tL.c Let docs not provide fo.r innocent owners -~o e.pply to in tl:o cor:-u.1isGion of t:·;o offonco wit::.01xG tJ.:.0ir l:::,cwlcclzo or consent • .:1pplic."',tion W,'>O o;.1t8rt0incc.l by t~'.u Thol1onic Court full,y conati tutc~l 9 wo lmve: e..ssw.100. 2.ml :,old ·t.b.:"..t it ontcr".;o.,il1cd. tho l'Of;po,-ic1-o:r~ 1 G 2,pplicc1.,ticr;. Ui.J.t.lcr tho provision:::; of f.:i;ction 23 (3) (cl) oi the Econonic m1d 0rz·2.1.;izoc1. Crir.io Control L.ct 1984? for otherwise it wov.16. !-'. .D.vo h2.cl no jurir:,:.1-iction~ 110,./5,, 5 In arriving at this conclu□ ion 1 we arc :i.:wnro of the clcoioion of thio Court in CriL1imtl Lppc[l.l no. 16 of 1987: DI:L'C110H OF PUBLIC PR0SiiX:U'l'IOUS vs, l:L'.SIL:X~ .'JiRt'JU in w~1ic!1 this Court st.'.".to::l. in respect of a forf'oi turo u2-,C.o und0r t~10 provisions of t'..10 F.conor.1ic a:.1d Qrgo.nizocl Cri::ic Control Let that t!::.c 10£1..rned judcc s:1ould 112.,ve re.0.d section 44 (2) of t.'.lc .:~ct wHl: soc_tion 78 (2) of tl 1.o Wilcllifo Consorv[-l;tion Ii.ct und forfei tod the vo.\icle le2.ving t:.,c owner to e.pply for its ro·;;v.rn to :-;.in. We tl.tink however tlmt thio point wns not nocossary for tho decision cf t!'.'.e Court boco.uno tl-io rinin conplnint by the Republic wns thnt tlw lo2.rn0cl judge !:-.c'..d. ordoroc~ tl:c vehicle to be rot1.ln10cl ·Go the owner ·wit!·ioi..~t sucl1 mmcr r.w,king a:.w application ancl wi t11out hearing the Republic. llc"vil'lf,' ;:i.old. tbit t!lc Court could ll;.wc properly ontcrto,inocl th.o application v.;,.(1..cr socticn 23 (2) (d) o.f J.;1:.<J .Jconmic nnc:.l Orgardzo<l. CriGe Co;r~rol :..ct 2.ncl aaving assu,:1ocl tllat it did so, wo ::1ow turn to consider tl:o v..ppocl on nori ts• Tho rosponclont contoniod in tho Co1.,u•t·oolow t1::.nt ho !.lRd lawfully hiro·:1• his lorr.r to one ;3oifu under ro1 2-creencnt and tllnt l-:c believed :;;oifu I s u;.1clor-tn~dng thc..t ho was goin 0 to us0 t~~o lorry to ferry wheat frco Dc-:i..r cs SG-10-c.-m Port to Bunmdi. This otc,ry wo.,s 0u.rprisingly bought by tho Econor:1io Courto 11.1:ao firct question is, -ices Soifu exist? L1 our view Loifu is c1 fictitious person invoi1.tod to save the respondent frm losin~~ his lorry. For how cculcl ,~oifu ~ve dacidecl to rcnain in Dc,r os Snl2-21:1 and so11cl t!w lorry back to Burundi wi t!:.out any lon,c1.., t:10 lorry fer w::ioh :10 hnLl 2-lro2,dy pe,id in n.clvn.i1cc 250,000 Fro.nos? :;o found it cliffioul t to c1ccopt tho notion that on <1..rrivnl in Dar cs Sn.1:--p..r.i t:10 rospon,:lcnt' s driver clcciclocl. to lmwc t!10 lorry entirely il1 Seifu 1 s hwds contr2,ry to his· (owner's) instructions. The rosponclcm.t first hcc.rtl of his lorry being invol voc.l in a Cri:::iincl case nnd. h2,ving l)Can i:-.1pou:nd.od by police 2,s early 2,s Fob.ru...--.,ry, but he docic~ocl to rcr.min in Burundi cloinc nothing abcut it u,1til tho co.so w,;1,s finc.lisocl in ~"iepteabcr c'..ild t!:.:.c order of forfeiture Lla(le.. This in our viow is not t::e ccndv.ct of an innccont m-mor,. 2.ncl his cxplo.nv,tion thnt ~ pol icmn.n fror:1 To.nzani,:,, had tclcl :1.i::1 not to cone is str;:-,ngo consiclorii.1g t.'.:0 f:-'..ct tl1r,t :10 nppce.rs to be a s02.soncd intorn2.tiqncl busincssr.1ru10 'l~::c prcG01:.co of sccrot c~:,'..:'.~b,3s in his lorry 2-ll point to tlrn _fact tlJ.at he l:.2,1..l this lorry maclo spocificn.lly to co.rrtJ unl2,wful good.s. 6 If at tiucs he cn.rriod ycgotablos in these secret chl1.;7lbors, it was just a sicl.clinc. All these circu:-.:1stanccs in our view lce,d to no ot!lor conclusion t:.i.::J.1 th~t the roapond.01,.t sent tllio lorry to funzania witlt J:.is 11nnzc>nian driver to co..rry ivory, o..ncl ot!10r s3ugclod goods. Scifu docs not exist, if ho cloes, lot the rcsponclonJli citb.or produce hiw or sno l1in in Burundi ·Courts to rc_oovcr the vnluc of !1i:s lorry. But tl:o rcsporl:lcnt cn..."1not be ::..llowccl to tc□pcr with tho wonl th of this country nncl eot nway so c;:i.sily by telling very unlilcely lies. If t!1c Co1,u:·i;s bocooc so gullible ns t!.:c I']conooic Court a,pcars to have been~ H will rJako it vcr-3 02.sy for lor:ry ovmors J110 try tI:i.oir luck by ju.st sending t~loir drivers on ;:1issions. It is toe kicl if they <",re C,'.'..E((::i; and inpriaonod, 1::,n·:: ·0!:;.cy ::,;-ct th0ir lorries br:wk to start tllc G'Vil trndu o..11 ov0r ;:,,.g2,in cl'tor hiring new drivers. We nro Gc1,tisfiod thcit t~:c rcspo11c'cc:.1t did not prove tb.::st his lorry W2Z l."!.God in t.'.10 cor:cission of t'.~cso offences without his lmowlcclc;o or co;1scnt. 1~ccorc'.ingly we nllow the n.ppeo.,1 1 quash tl::.c order setting asid.0 t!1c order of forf.eituro and :i:ostorc t!1.c. -a.riginal order f or.f cHil,e the respondent's lorry. , JUSTICE OF APFE.'i.L t> ..... • ,,,.• R.H. KIS!ilTGA :r,IF:..LILh OF ii.PPEli.L ~ (J.H. MSOFFE) SENIOR -D.JPUTY R.]GI3TRiu1