19950927 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Citation
- 19950927 TZHC Dar es Salaam
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 27 September 1995
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appellate
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 27 September 1995
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appellate
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The trial magistrate erred in imposing the maximum sentence under the mistaken belief it was the minimum, and failed to consider mitigating circumstances; the sentence should be reduced to allow immediate release.
Court disposition
Sentence reduced; appellant to be immediately discharged from prison.
Orders
- Appellant's sentence reduced to time served
- Appellant to be immediately released from prison
02
Material facts
Parties
Omary Ramadhani
AppellantRepublic
Respondent Counsel: Mr. ChidomAmounts and remedies
- Value of Gemstones: TZS 2,360.7
- Original Sentence (years): 15
- Time Already Served (years): 1
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appellate
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the sentence imposed was appropriate under the law
- 02
Whether mitigating circumstances were properly considered
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The sentence of fifteen years imprisonment was excessive and should be reduced, considering the appellant pleaded guilty, had no previous record, the value of the gemstones was small, and he had already served one year in prison.
- Respondent
- The appeal is not opposed; the respondent concedes the sentence was based on a mistaken understanding of the minimum penalty.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Gemstone Industry (Development and Protection) Act, 1967; Economic and Organized Crime Control Act, 1984
Sentencing must consider both the statutory minimum and maximum penalties, as well as mitigating circumstances.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The trial magistrate erred in imposing the maximum sentence under the mistaken belief it was the minimum, and failed to consider mitigating circumstances; the sentence should be reduced to allow immediate release.
Court disposition
Sentence reduced; appellant to be immediately discharged from prison.
- Appellant's sentence reduced to time served
- Appellant to be immediately released from prison
Source and reliance status
TZHC · 27 September 1995
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Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
TZHC
Judgment· 27 September 1995
}',~. >.· . '~ '1':", ~-- .. '· TIT T.1:IE HIGH COURT QF T.fJTZAl'Ui'.. frf l;b,~_i C ~ 111 Dlill 2B SlJ.J.&J -- ;. DCOlTONIC /.PPJ1'.f, HCe 7 OF 1994 ;.w:o TJJJ :iIJFuDLIC • • o • • • • .n::JS:i.~OEI)EiiT I?. UL I'lT G MAPIG/iNO,J1 This is an appool nca.inst tho·- sentence of fifteen years imJ?risonmani whiob. the district oourt 0,t Morocoro j,r,_+,'licted on the appellant Qma.ry Ramaclhani. This oourt has been urgecl to recluc0 that torm. Tho a:i)pollaJ:It WM oo:n:vioted of boil1C tmlrn-r.f'ully possessed of ger.istonos, undo:r- sootion ~3~- of the Gemstone Ina.ustcy (D::nrolOJ?ri1ent tmd Protection) Aot, 1967, as road together with section 59 of the Eoono:::.ic n.:a.cl Orc;nnized Crime Control Act, · 1984, and Pal'agL"DJ?h 17 of tl:o First Sc:1odule to that i'..ct. Tho appeal is i:i.--..rcs5.siiiblo and .tl:.is fo ooncoclocl by the roS"J?ondent Ropublic. It is p0,t01:.iily cl Jo.r..tha.t t~ .; L: 22nod triol oogistra:bo thought that tho penalty ho ir.!}_)ozaC: is tLo m.ini~Xil.! : :.>osc:dbcd 1:,y la.w for the offence, and that thoroforo it ll'M ncodloss for :-J.n to oonnic:.or the mitigo.ting oiroumstancos attm~il.iJ.-._~; t~~o cnrm. Thci ·was £'- sc:vious mistake. Tho penalty inl)osod was nctu..".11;/ tLo ,:1C!:}[ir.:urn foI" the o:ffonco. No doubt, tho sor:tonco ifr',~ oxcocd.µ'.lt-:1.y severe, il..'1d it is proper that it should be roc7:ucccl to iJu.c:.:. 2, torm as will
result into tho eypollant's r immodiate c1isohargo froi:1 ]?Tison. The oir,-::ru1ntnnccs . ,•ihioh have induocd ii y II this court to take thr..t View can be statcci_ 1):ricfly as follows: Tho t I' ( L appellant ploadod cuilty to tho aho.r[sO r..na. ho wns of J.)rcvious good cb.ara.otor; there -r-ras no ng[:;rr.:mting f oaturo 1·rhatavc:r in the offcnceJ tho value of tho gemstones 112.S sr.rru.l, tho prosecutor put it at she. 2, 360/70; and the apJ?ellt>.J.1t _l:0,s r-J.rcr,cjy suffered iop:riso1mcnt for a, period of o:no , ,, ,. ....i yoa:r. :, i' It is orclorcc.l 0..0001•,1.int:;ly. ,, •i Delivc:;.•0c1 l..p!)clln.:.:.t in l)crson. l. Mr. Chido1-m f o:r tho Ilospondont., D. P .- M.tJ>I GlJTO J1J])G]} 27/9/9r;. \
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