19931025 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Citation
- 19931025 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 25 October 1993
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 25 October 1993
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The appellant acted as a bona fide purchaser, believing he had a genuine claim of right to the land, supported by evidence and witnesses. The prosecution failed to establish criminal intent or knowledge of lack of right. The conviction and sentence were quashed as the evidence did not prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
Court disposition
conviction quashed, appellant acquitted
Orders
- sentence set aside
- order to demolish appellant's house quashed
- appellant to be released forthwith unless held for other lawful causes
02
Material facts
Parties
Hosmis Nzili
Appellant Counsel: in personRepublic of Tanzania
Respondent Counsel: Mr. DlaJndos, State AttorneyAmounts and remedies
- Purchase Price Paid by Appellant: TZS 130,000
- Purchase Price Paid by PWI: TZS 65,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the appellant committed criminal trespass under section 299 of the Penal Code
- 02
Whether the appellant had a bona fide claim of right to the land in question
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The appellant argued that he was a bona fide purchaser of the land, had built a house on it, and believed the seller was the rightful owner. He claimed a genuine right to occupy the land.
- Respondent
- The State Attorney declined to support the conviction, arguing the appellant was a bona fide purchaser, the transaction was witnessed by local leaders, and the matter was essentially civil, not criminal.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Penal Code, section 299; cited case Ndalasonji (1970)
A bona fide claim of right negates criminal trespass if the accused genuinely believes in their ownership or right to occupy the land.
- 02
Penal Code, section 299
Criminal trespass requires evidence of intent to annoy or knowledge of lack of right to enter the land.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The appellant acted as a bona fide purchaser, believing he had a genuine claim of right to the land, supported by evidence and witnesses. The prosecution failed to establish criminal intent or knowledge of lack of right. The conviction and sentence were quashed as the evidence did not prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
Obiter and limits
- This is a straightforward civil matter where the complainant should have sought civil remedies.
- The appellant had long since built a house on the plot and was living there openly.
Court disposition
conviction quashed, appellant acquitted
- sentence set aside
- order to demolish appellant's house quashed
- appellant to be released forthwith unless held for other lawful causes
Source and reliance status
TZHC · 25 October 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.
TZHC
Judgment· 25 October 1993
IlJ T.EJ1: :-:~rec: C(YJ.,_lT OF TANZANIA ~- ?7 D"'' ~- ,!~; ~ES C!;,T A AM ~ .UUJ.tl.W'J. ~ APPELIJ.~}JE JORI SD I OI1I ON :.~let.I COU;lT G:'J:1-lllIAL AP.PEAL NO. 112 OL1 15:)3 O~!IGINAL CRIIIDiAL CASE NO. 496 OF· 1992 ,. :::IV"JICOIIT HOS)flS rJZil.LI , , • , •• , ••••• , •••., • , •• , • .ll.I1'1'L1...-'\1-f'.l' ( ORG .- .6.CCUSl1!0) TCI'SUS Ju :0 GM EN T1 . •"' lifll ¥ *!fl "I MACKLUJJr,,. J;- .... ;:'4 . ~ ~Le ~,!)Ollo.nt and. t·io o·i.:l.o;s wexe oha.tgecl wi•:;2: o::i::ri.11.al 'b:csi1r,; .., o/n 299 of the Pm'lAl Qodo. ~e a.ppollant uv..s the Is·~ aoou.sccl cluri110 t'_~c t=ial in the OOl-~-~ ~ ; , , . Aoco:rcli1-ic to -the ov1ucnoo of ~lh Mwasong1·ro (p;r4) her: hullbancl sold. a.- piooc of lancl to one ac~:rgQ ~/e Eiias (ETj:) Jo:i: a sum of shs,65,000/-:=, T:.10 soconti. accUJ;jocl, o~Q Leoooxd Mc.:t:j,-'Gu. 1 is alleged to have 1tl-'.;ncs~Jo~l Ja;Jlis J~ranao.o-'.;ion. PITI made a. dow.a. pq;rncnt of shs._50;0-,0/= on the nt:{·~)X-il 7 1990; he pa.id the 1x.i,la,;.1.oc of sh.s.15,oCX;j,-, ca 2nd I'if',T, ::.~~-1. Soon after pUJ:cha.::ii;.40 ·Gll.is pm-eel I:1 a -~:ra11sadio11 coii1l)lc·~clY W')J'clated to Pl1I 's pl:X•o:iasc of lal1cl 1 the a;::,polla;.1t also cn·~e,:rcc1 il'r~o a.n ~eemcnt to ~o:iaso a pioco of land. '.J:c -vc:1d.or v1c.s Lconax-cl H,q;l;;_-'GJl; -'mo t3aoo11d acCL:octl, Dv.xinc; ·;;:,10 nogotia-',.;ia:.1s, one Abdallah ~ d , tho 3rd accused,
insis·~ccl tllat -'Gl:.o plot ol lalrl i.1 q1.10s'i:iion bclongoo. to th.o 2nd, aQCl-1.l3cd. At the end of it all 'li:.o 2i.,cl. accused sold a piaoo,of land '"Ji;a ·lbl::.c- appcllonjti for a S'U,i1l of s.1.!..s,130;000/=, he iila<le n d.gttn p03D1ent of shs;,90,000/"" on ·l;.b.c spot, _, ' , . . i,e, on 19 Dooomber:, 1991~ p:o p~d the ba.J.ancc on 20-;;·1 Doocmbe:r, 1991 • .. •• / ._ ... -· ' ·~'· -•:. Thl,s tn.:;.10Mtion was wHno~::.:ccl 1{r -~>c •l1cn Coll ~oa.ar:, 0110 N~eo Na.11papa, and ti:c To~1 Ooll Scexda:;;J one s:ia·iJa:n Yal1t)Jra ~ (~) , ?-~ 11ottl.cl. appear fr-0:,1 Ji;:".:o cviclcncc that the plot 1-r.'.:ic:.i PUI olro.;·_;ccl to l:a.vc i)Oti.c}.1:~ is t:ie snmc piooc of la.t--id which ·c:.:..c r..;:'ir;cllLl.1Ji; appor..rs fo have bouch:~ ::i."-.c om the 2nd aoo\..taed, The wri ttei1 a.=.,T o cr.10:;.r;; wi tncssil]G the ptuo::ar:,c of ·the pa:rocl o~ land by PWI wa.s tcnclc:r,ccl as Fo:rh.PI, ro'ld j 1 t:illC d OCl'.I:1C:,:.;' lLUC.w. , . , wi·.;ncGGC:S .. .,,.: ...h ..,, . , . ,.. 1 d v.'-lC l)lll'~asc OJ.: ·i;.,:~c Sc',l'.1O l)1COC Ol;. ru.1: by t:~o Oi.,)pcllan-~ in •hlJ.is oas<; was ·~endercd as E::::i1,P_.
2. I-'.; was 011 t:J.ir3 evicicnoo -'i;:io;~ the appcllan-~ <l.1.tcl. -'i;b,e othe.1: accusccl ucI c :Zor1.nd guil-l;y ot orimi~-ia.1 ·liJ:tospMs o/s 299 o1 -l.b.c Po~ (;odo; thc2r wc:.:c aoco:rcling].Jr oonviotocl o.;.id acn·~enccd ·i;o Va1'~"ing tcxms of imp:riso:r.10::-t, Tho a.ppt.illan:~ l'-OQoivad a four 110:1-'~' 01,l.S'todial seiT~oncc u:".:..ilc each of ·~ll.o ot.hcl'· t;ro uas scn·~enccc."i. -~o 0110 i,1011-u' s imp:risonr,1m1Jli • $.10 Oour-'G also ,,. ord.cxod. -t:iat m1,7•thing st:.c:.:. as a ~:,t:fl.cti,,ng which 1-1as ~oo·cec'L on -'Q1c plot whio:1 J..,:_:c Oo~::r-;; :fou.nd bclonc:;c(.-;_ to IJ.iw;i s/o Geo:rgo (Pir.t) bo oomplo·~a~~ dGill.olis:.:.cc1. -'.;o allow rc.a.0a.11·~ 1,or.:1::.:csqion to the s~d JIQ,i.f.lil a/o Geoxgc t1,., unlcsn o·r10r:uiso the oont:r~~,.. is l,c~al~ s;.10-wn_.·tt I·~ i □ i:·i1portcJn-;; to 110·::c -~.w-c the a.ppellant h~1.. lon:-; since 'buil·t a. house 0:1 ·:.1,w plot in c_:ti.cr:f~ic-:,1 in which he 'Wat;i J,:.Vinc ir:.~cn 1.e a;_,por-.20:l ho OO;:J.j,jQj.l.d3 ~~.lut th.c leaxn.cD. ·bxial, mae;istrate ~t:ecl i·, laH in not -J. havin..:-;· OOiWidOl'cd the a:fipcllants' d.Zonoe of l1011cc;·~ c!.aim of right. '.fuc sooond C,'X'O\..utd complains D.C;'a.i:Qa-'w tho h.axsllnce::.: o:Z sc:1-:;cncc he uas awardccl ~.:Qspco·t . of tho .wt that he was a lhs·~ o:.?:?cn~lc:r~ IIr·, DlaJ_1dos, lca.rnccl rf~atc A:~-'i:iorney, who appoar eel
for: the Rept~bl.:i.c i..tM cl.co lined -~o ::rn.ppoxt ·iiJ.10 conviction.. Ire :.·,as 5-ivon tluoc .• roaoona, :u'i:::s-:;ly, the 11p1)cl12..i1·0 io a bona fide purO:~a from t;_1e ~td acctwoc.l~ ·oollcvi;,1c; Jl.il.1&.-t -:;_·_,_c ocl:'..-:::::: was the rightful OV.-le:r- of tlrn land . di spt'.vC, l.11 .i. .. ,. '....i.10 2nd accl--.SCC.L, ,· G pl~L c:r-~QO. , ' OWl'!r!(sh.; 'P ;i-ras , d b •'- Slt).)l)O'.i:"tiC iy 11...lO • 3rd MCt'.occ.".. , Socond].y, ~o ocJ.c ~ms made befoio, onc1 was uitncsscd by, tho le3aclc'.i:'s of the oell in 1i.,ic:i. tl1c pl,ot is eitu,i:tod, I on-i;ircl,t ~ce w:i. th -'iflis if.i.01-1. I may add t::.a·;; ·:;;.tis is a simple, and ij-'.;J:a:i.;2,htforwru:cl civil ii1at·~cx in whlch ·1;hc ooa;)la.ina.nt oU&h,t to have GOL;ght a civil r-c;·,icc.l.j, Baoa,..::ao ·iii.a appellant :..1.&1 o. genuine olaim ()f u@.r~ u:.4a'..:. is suppo:rfo<l. ..... ,/3 ( ... J •..·. by c:rvid.01100 oi' Jiilic Cell le~s, t!.19, ~go .tigai,1~-~ 2.d~,1 oould no-'G be pJ;ovoc.l. iJ_t ta.o-',, ovid.cnoQ ~~i r-ocora 1ai1a f.a:r sb.ort o:Z or,rliabliahi:ng tl1c o::?1'01100 1ti-'.;h which ~G.ho t1-l)PC11~t ~ -ehar:g·ocl, 2 is o::Z:fonco CM be prcrtcd oitl,; uhaxc t:10:r·c i □ c•;;i:::.cncc os-'Ga.blisl.1.inc -~_'._i.a;~ Mtxy on t:.io land in qr:.ca•~ion "l"Tu.s :Zm:ci :Jlc ui-:..::. in-cont_ to 8.llltOYa In -~10 ins·i;ant oasc -~~-~c ~-pcll:·,::t 1s s•;;a,·;;c c:2 ;-;ii:::c m1s
tlia;i;_ of a. bona. ficlo pu.rc~1a.sc:q i·t uao a 1·.:.:--...d. w: .iol1 is a;.:poo·~o:.: , .. te::rn s·~ops to devej.op t:.10 land :.10 had r:-cc.c.:c:1 to 1)olicve was :us.. 2 ..:c :::cqtti.,r.i to irr~c1i·~ has net been ., " li :::..:.c~ ostiaD ' ....~c:.:c; cspccJ." . cl 1...:·, · '• ·.;_10 :rccor d . d oes noli ., (l.'..:m1 ' ~- {l'.:au-'- -~~10 '. gppn1l.n;;.1"'G :'.\cc;o-'~iat:xl to 1J1.1..:;~ uo dispufod pieoo of la.ud 1r:V~ lmowlc~-ce -'lib.a~ -~·.:..o ::,a;:10 par-eel o:Z la:..ic'. ~-.au all;oa<ly been QOlcl -'i;o :J-'.):,100110 else. ~-=G .. _" • •,._oxoo·~od t:.:.c :1.ol1.so in broclJl da.y· ligh-'u• As -'ii.his 001.i.x"i; ~.tolcl in NclaJ.,aonj~ · . ·--~ {1970) ··t.:· ...;,i; n, , , If the oo;,1111~t W'a.s enney-cd, ~t 112.s not :f9x "'i;)1c :fo:oibl.o ent.y,. :fQJ: th.ere :lad bgm1 nono • .-u1 iConscr,ttcn·~ ·~)• - upon -'v.his -lihe .oonvio-'~io11 iG quAShcd, scn-:;Qi.1cc anrl "'..b.e ol'dcx ·co c1.c;·,101ia_;_ -~he complui:1.<U.1·~•s ttuoss, thcroforc, -~c cq_1pcllant be h.cld in ~Gl)co·~ o:Z ot:10x la.}rl'Ul o:=ouscs, : .o i10L1.ld "be so·~ a:'.i 1i ;JcI:·'.i~r foxthw;i. th. J, M. Mll.GK.ll.NJA JUD~ ~Ao/J.99,. Ur, ~o.i.1.c"':.cG ( SA) r For RcpL:blio Appolla;~t.: In pcI:so11. ;.
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