19931231 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Citation
- 19931231 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 31 December 1993
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 31 December 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 conviction was valid as the particulars of the offence were clear and the appellant knew the charge; however, the sentence was improper as the appellant should have been given the option of a fine.
Court disposition
appeal against conviction dismissed; appeal against sentence allowed
Orders
- Sentence of fifty-six days imprisonment set aside
- Appellant sentenced to a fine of 1000 shillings or two months imprisonment in default
02
Material facts
Parties
J. Muriithi Nkrisio
Appellant Counsel: Mr. SomgaloRepublic
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Fine Imposed: shillings 1,000
- Imprisonment in Default: months 2
- Original Imprisonment Sentence: days 56
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the charge was defective due to incorrect statutory citation
- 02
Whether the appellant should have been given the option of a fine instead of imprisonment
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The charge was defective as the cited section had been repealed and the appellant was denied the option of a fine.
- Respondent
- The particulars of the offence were clear and the conviction was valid; carrying excessive weight remains an offence under the saved Traffic Rules.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 388, Criminal Procedure Act
No conviction or order shall be reversed or altered on appeal due to error or irregularity in the charge unless it occasioned a failure of justice.
- 02
Rv JAMILA MUSIKO (1969) TLR 61; BHANJI S/O IMAMJI v R (1969) TLR 311; Dv M/S S.P.& CONSTRUCTION (1981) TLR 6
Where both fine and imprisonment are prescribed as alternative punishments, courts should give the option of a fine to first offenders unless good reasons exist to deny it.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The conviction was valid as the particulars of the offence were clear and the appellant knew the charge; however, the sentence was improper as the appellant should have been given the option of a fine.
Obiter and limits
- The Traffic Rules remain in force despite the repeal of the Traffic Ordinance due to section 117(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act, 1973.
- The trial magistrate gave no reasons for denying the option of a fine, and none are apparent except perhaps the fallen value of money.
Court disposition
appeal against conviction dismissed; appeal against sentence allowed
- Sentence of fifty-six days imprisonment set aside
- Appellant sentenced to a fine of 1000 shillings or two months imprisonment in default
Source and reliance status
TZHC · 31 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.
TZHC
Judgment· 31 December 1993
.. 1993<, .:· ..... <.. ., . :-, . ~., "'·. {}:·: ,- -._.,- ~ ''I' T:IJ UK:i : .1D ]jJP(J..JLIC., ••••••••• $:UISPOli'Dl!:r:JT ... '' ....v .J!_l)_JL1!..!1U Tho n.ppcllm1JG, 11.J.IIf'iI NRISTIO, was oonviotcd on his oun ploo.. of {rl,tllty by tho. Dic"lr.i."'i.ot 0o'U.1.--t <"Jf. Ilaln. Dj.st:Diot n:t--ICivti.koni n.i1d. . • . • • •.I• •. •·.. • • • '•• ~- ••• •••.' sentenood to i':ii't;r-s:b: ,:.a.~·s il:TJ?~~sorwe.1~t_• ·--·~~~. appeal is: l?~ily ~ t tho sontonoo of 56 dcys_ imprisof1JU0nt . r , . whioll uoa ~Gd lrl.tllout tho option of n, fine. Mt•o Somgalo,wc, l'ec:.rt1cd oounaol for tho ttppc,Ua.nt, !:~ also corirpl.::.inod t:~.at t1).c c~ir.rc;o ·1-r2..S' dafcot:i;w·.:ti.s: ;;t4o soot.ion oited. ~ been l"c:pccJ.cd, L~1d'' oontcndecl:~t11a~t ~voh· tho, . ooiwlo-t:tGit ~ .stazld. .. < Tho o!ta:ree oon:i_1lc..inoa. of is irord.od as f ollowsc , :, tt0£:1.!?;:!UCE STJCTI01T DU) LL.Fs . ....,....._,_• . , . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ·ow:,tllir,~ tJ l;.J ~~~~~~~t~ ntUn1jar of load ~ tl:2.11 t:::.o j_):.•cso:;:-i1)od -1:i..r.r._t . . s .-31.- .( o) ' of... ~:... th.0 .... ...Road ·-- Trotf':$.o c/ ~ . ~ Oro_i.:1~',11()0 C~1 160 as ropo4ed 1)y s. 117 ( 1 ) ru1d ( o) of the Ror\d ':1,_•clfic .'~ct 1To~ :,0/73". ' • .\,'. . , ...... , .. • ~- ., ...... ,., " .. •.:.,,= ~TIT'L/:.'.'.J CF OJ'rFEf:c:7!~ Tho po:i.'SOn che.rc;ed on tho 1~th &l.Y' ot Fo1~1.,:~-:~ ·1;93 2.:b
a')OUi; 6;+~-]>~?f?., al.01'\G Ubungo Mi:!,oni ip:t,bjJi ... . ,_..., - . tho d.ist1.·•ict o:f:' Kinona.oni, Dm- es Sols.om ~on, lio1,ne tho - .....>.· .. '--. ~ · · · · · .,_ · · orivro1 n.nd il1cl12.:\jO of motor vahioJ.,c reg. ~lbe:i.' 'l"Z ~387 ~ 1' Soanio,· lo7.'r3r, did cc.rr3r in his whicle 7Go0 lta in :i:.'0°'1' D,itlG •• ' • ,~ • i .,. \ • . .•' "\ ,•• . , ·: ' • _' "\ ' ','" ·: ••• •' •, ~ •• • I ,reioit,· ~f..tlle ho was leeaJ.ly 'att~od ·to .oa.r.t'/.1000 kg 1:\ • • • . .° .: •· ·• • ·. • . •, ' •:_ • 0 . • • I •r . , , • •• , l ' • -~ re~ ox1~_·wbij1t _·t~ 500 kG ln l10,D.I'·~o':~e~~t·1~ ~sive•" _j • • • I :!!GSpeotf'li:1.~·- e...::;1.•00 with Er.::Somu~,: l~od.~W~ _:t0.J;',.,l}le ~11- ..... -.. ·- ., • ,I/ •• - •• ' •• • . . . . __ . . . . . . . . ·- -I •· f.. • .-~ ... _..., ' • • J • .... • • • • • • ... • . ,. • • • ,. , • • • • ·- ·~· • -..i· . f "• - ~t, -.~lmt ,:t~:e_ ol1c~c-:i is C:cfccti~,' bu.~; _li'_i t~1.·x,-ooPG¢.,__ I -'~~..int~ t:~. ~~ion ~-,:~U..'10..o , r:-;,,. · ' · +:· . .:: t.:. of:fonco: U:.:,~l?~J.:y- -~~ ~~- IJ,g1i.oil_ 31,.;of ~he _rcpcc2.ot".. 1:-.:::::L T~~:'.:':.c_ Ordi11c.n~o clo_c~s ~~~~--~~.11~~~19,.1.: ~::;' • ~~ 1Jy ch-ivo..".., o: ::1:.",J.:'..c se~i~ voru,.~os ~-not. t h e ~ ~t.·'i~ts -to ~Jo 08.l~icd.o · · · ... :· ·. . .·• ~ ,.. . . ·: ...,•.<. '.~i.~~1~ .'.1 .. '...~.-. ; • J • .• 2 This defect, hoc;rovc;:', j_s cu:;:-r,010
uncle1· tho pi•ovisions of sootion 388 of tho 9rirninal Prooodi.ti:c Lct 1 19G5 1)002.uso tho dotri.:ilod pr,.j_->tia..tl.UTS of offence providec1- 1-rJ.1:~o:.1 .do not le:.wc any d01.,11Jt at all in tho ~1.d of the nccusea 2.r:: to 1(:..r;t tho off once cJ1a.rged is. Section 3GG of tho ~irn:Lxu:u Proooch...-:.•o ."..ct 111·ovidos as follows& !!3G2 •. SnlJjoot to tho p:;:-ovisio11S he:r.-einbeforc oontainod l'l.O firiainc; sentence or order nmde m.:- pc,sscd by a ootirt of oom:potont ju:i.'isdictj.on shn.11 1.Je rovo:;..--sed o:r ol toi•otl :on rr.;>p0c,l o=c• revision on acootu1t of an;:r error omission oz- i:i:?OC,l:ilm>ity in the complaint, svD.mo11s, 1-ra1"Ta.nt, c,'!.}Zl.•eo, p:roclc.-;10,tion, nrdo;r, ju.d@ncnt o::.:- :i.n a:l'lj1 inquir.;;r o:L• oth0r J?I'O ocodincs undm.• this Act; se:v-o tb'.1t uheJ::-e on aJ?l)Oa.1. or rev:;..sfon~ the co1.12t is satisfied. th2,t such e1'Tor1 omission OJ.:- j;,?j,,•ce,,-1.lc:L'i ty has in fa.ct oco,;.,gioncd failure of justioo, the ootw..--"t u12..;y- ordo:r- a :i..·ctioJ. o~~ mclcc suab. o'ther o~o.T OS it In the present 02so oJ. t~:-.ouc;.1 tho 1r.con5 section was quoted tae :P<-'U'tioulars of offence :i.s vc:--:J cloc,,_• o.na. tho o,ppolJ..nnt k:now 0~::a..ot1y 1rrhat t:10 oha.rge aeaj_nst l1im wc,n. E0 :pleaded G-ruilty to ct..i..'Tj;iJ.1f~ a load of 7(;oo ~ 11hile the ma.x:i.1:ru.m 1rnic::t o..llouod :i.s 7000 kG• TJJ.iS is
D.11. offenco 'W'ldar Ru.le '!/) { 1)(±") of the 11\.:-ci':fio Rulos 1-rhioh providef! CJ:l follows& 11 30 - ( 1) lTo r,e:rson shn.11 C8l.1Se or pormit a rnoto~ velliole or trailo:;.:- to l)o usecl on 2l'lji' roc,,d o:,:, shall dxivc o::.:- ho.VG oha:rge of a moto:r ·;,rehiclo wl1en so used unless tho conditions lwreinaf'tor sot fo:i:.·,·fa a.re satisffoa_, nam0l311-:- (f) lTo loo.d of a gi."eat02 weiGht th.on th.:1.t ltltlo!1. the vehicle o:r t:-cciler is oonst1"t..1.ct0d to carry as rec~tered and statocl on the lioonoe, sbAU ba plaoed eyon any motor vehicle." The 'l'ra£fic Rules h.a,-ro l)oon saved by section 117 (2)(a.) of tho lload Tra.tlic 1--ot, 1973 whioh p:;.10vidos t-.s f'ollowss- •117 - (2) riott·ritli.st~ the J;>rovisions of subseotio11 (1) of this aoo-tio:..1 -(o..) all sul.Jsj.di."tizy' leciaf-0,tiona. made t ~ th.a T:;:-nff:i.o Ord.i).1D.1100 ,-:c.na. inf-0:t'Oe- immodiAtoJ.y before the oomm.enooment · of tbis 1..ct shall 0011-t:inuo in · f oroo n.nd 1)o doomed to have bc8l1 la11fully made under this ·.lot until it is rcvokod1 and ~ ba varied or omencled t1r000.l:'d.ill(!;ly." 3 • Thus or..r:r~rinc; o:::00ssiv0 u0ight is still an offence oven ci'tcj? -tho repoal of the Trc1i'fic O:.'cLi•.n~:.nco. I h.-wo ch·e.:.,dJ st,'.',tecl that tho q)r,ollnnt was not in rn1~, J?~~•ejr:.clioocl 1Jy tl10 wronc stc,tl~"tori IJl"OVisions oitcclo I hold theref oro tJ.w,t tho
0011\riction 1-tp,r~ b:;.sod 011 t:10 1mcquivocaJ. :ploc:, of tho appollont CJ.'lcl. so lo;;o,J.:;_~,· iX:..:_nto.ine,1)lo. Fo::~ t:.1.is ;;.•onson tho o.pponl a,crainst oonviction f tdlo. I t1,u.'ll now to t~10 a;2por.il c,_;Gi."c1st so.;:1t0noo. Tho a:p:pellnnt 1r22 sentenced to servo fift~,-six dc..;7s in jcil ui tl1out ~)0i11c.; c;hron tb.e option of a fine. Rulo 69 of tho 1I'-2c.f'fic R1.1los :p1•ovidos W3 follows&- 11GS •. ',1\,- ,01·0011 oor:1;·,1Ht:1.nc i.:, 1J).'ono:.1 of rmy of t3.:..o }?rov:1.sions of 01:? of rn1:t 2.)rolli1Ji tion unclo1·, these l1uleo -slw.ilr 1r~:-0:i:O no speoiaJ. ., t~~ is :r.NVided, 1Jo lic:,iJle in :ros]_)oct of e[~O:\ offe;100 to a J?onpJ. fj_no of ono thoUSDl1d sltlll:i.11,'.)5 O:;? Dl cc.so of 0. SoOO:i.ld or S"..,1tsec..:.uo11.t offence to a fi110 of fifteen llun~·ccl s::.illillC'.,13, or to i.Lr-9:;;-:iJJonaont for three montl1s o~ to lJoth such fi:.'lc Cl1d iu71?I"isonmant." This cowt hu.o o:rten said th:::-,t where ti10 lo@,'1.slutv..re h .."'$ ]?J.>OSOI'ibcd both o, fine and n prison t01·m 8.S nJ.t01."Ilcl.tivo pu..n:i.sllruents to 1Jo ii:wosoc1. th.era the oou:;,..ts, poi-.ticrclc:.•l;r u:1.en denli.llC,' wit).~ first offcncle'.i."S' sho1::ld c.;ivo the option of pn;:tinc; 2, fi.,."'l.e to the 2.ocused 0 Seo Rv Ji..,1IiL.':.. MUSI.:·:o ( 19G9) TICD n.61 I BllCJ.J:'..I s/ o IT...'lIIr:;:i: vit ( 1969) TICL n 311 o It is only when
theJ?o n.:i.'>0 c;ood reasons f o::r doil-1_) so should. tho com.,ts clon;/ the oocuacd tho o:;.>tion of a. fine. See D.v II/s S•.P& COHSTRUCTIOH ( 1981) TID. 6. ~he te~.J..·•nocl. -bl'ia.1. mo,,_:;ist1.•£tt0 in thin er.so C}',vo no r0asons fo:;:? dcn;;rine tho appellm1.t the option of ri; fine n.nc1 no:10 su.r;costs itself except, pe:d181,)S 1 the fp,,lj.011 value of money.. In the resr:.l t I r--J.lou tho D-]?l)CC,1 £1.{,t.,ilwt sentence.. T>o sontenoo of fifty - si,x dc,::,n _L1J?:;.":i.s011ment is horelJ~r set Mide and the c:21xuln.nt is sentenced to a f~i.:10 of shso 1000/::: (ono tl:.01...sa.ud sh.illin(,-sr ~ ir.to- months imprisoniuent in dofr.ult. To L., NKGDD
JUDGE ! Juc1Q·.1011t clGJ..i-;OJ.'oc.l fo;: ::011 0 IITCu']:-:;,J. t:.:.io 31st dcy of Iioo::i:.:f,o:.•, 1993; in tl:o ]_):.'oso:100 of 1x:it~1 cotU1Scls. A.. J. d riA::TE?J:Vc S:S?TIO~: DEPT.J7f :a:8G 1.3'}.. Jill / i, .i ,·
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