19891127 TZHC Dar es Salaam2

APPELLATE JTT.:.1ISDIC'l'IOIJ () HIGH COvRT c::-:.IL.i.ITJ.L Ai.°FEAL HO• 59/89 ORIGIITAL ClU:I:IITAL CAGE ITO~ 1 ,31 OF 1938 OF. THE DISTRICT COUI:.T CF ILALJ~ DIGTRICT JS lCTSUTU R0side:nt Eucistrate Tl:U.BITI MOHAME::)I !~lJGJ.~7.J. • • • • • • • AP:?ELLAIJT ( Ori 0 inal J.ccus0cl) vorous THE UHI'I'ED REPUBLIC • • • • • • • • • RES::?OIJDENT (Orici.nal Proaocutor) This was an ap::_)G_c:-.l_ ncain::.t conviction a:;.1.cl s0n·bencc. · nppella11.t wao conv;f.ct0c.i. on i'm.,r co'-'nts, nan0ly, unlaw:fUl possession o:f' firoarr:, o/os 1.3 ( 1) and .31 ( 2) o:f the Arms and J\r.lr,n:m.i tions Ordinance, Cap. 22.'.3; u:.:.J.nw:ful. posscrnsion of ocrvice stores •/rs J1 tA (-') of' t::.e Pe1-:al Code; and 0scepinc :fror:1 1.Z'.wi\ll cuotody t/:s 116 alno .of tl-:e :i?enal Code. I·fo was son·tm1oec1 to concurrent terno o:f ir.1p::.:isonrna11.t of' 4 yeers on count o;;::J.e, 2 tears on count t,·ro, enc-:. one yec:-.r ec:.clJ. on counts thr~e anc. :four• .. ;c-; had been ;f.ntcnc1ec: to roviso t:".1.e s0ntence on cou11.t one ~;it:,. a view to ~t~ enhanee1:10r~t bt:tt then car.1e this appeal a.gainnt oonvic;~on ancl sentence. 'I'l:e ,:1-stt;e:-."' was oubsequently over- looked at the hearing o~ t~e a~90al. Tlj.c ov:i..denoe i:::. t:i."J.iG caGe ,·mo straic:;ht :forward. On 1,5 ·O<,tober, 1987, about 1 .30 a .n. ,. t:::e appellant wao intercepted at Mwana11.yar.12.l~ by policer:1en 011. patrol c:.ad on beil.1.g searched he was i'ou:;.1C. ·u:!.t:i.1 a. pistol bonrinC; 001.""ial !To .004750 • Bc:forc he oo-c:ld be placed under custody I-20 r.:ade good his escape despite oeins shot a::.-.,_c: wounded ·in the th.ic;l).. .r - 2 ...:•..... .... · ':,i.:'. ... 1/ieanwb..iJ.e exaoj p , a ~ of -;;I,:.e pJ.otQl .l."e.voa~d.. .the pre:sonce of :five bull.et~ in the ouc;uz.:Lnc.. :Cn.. .!-;j,,:1 es ca:;.:,G the ap:-.,)ellant aoandoned a ba~ in a ta;.d. i11. ,·rhicl1 i'2c · :i.1.ad been t.t-awll.ine;• t Exar.u.nation of' the bac ~ov~o.1oc1 t}1e_.presence .. of two pol:i..c-e u:i.i!'orms aloncr· wit~;. t~·ro polio~ oaDtr-~d· otheZ' 1ika ~ti.cl~-· '1'11.e awoll.an:li waa £iJle1~ coz-:.;.ercc~ a:.;,cl arrested at a,, houoo at Ifuurahat.;. ?n '&he nicI~t o1_17 DooenoG:i:-t 1987. He was :fou.i."'ld. a'bil.l. 11uroing his woundecl th:lah l And ecj_'l.1ally c1raH'1a tic was -bi1.~ way t...-io a1:>~ellant. ~~~ allec;ecl to haVo ~.iLd ~.,] it ~Cl,lJi.1 reel t!le p.io t.ol .lfo,.0041,o, :i:t was ol.a:JJ:J~c. t:1at tvto yeal"s· prev:Lou::ily, on 24 July, 19,, l:le i-obbecl this pistol. i'i•on PW8, ~ police eonstaole, ·.:ftcr ,. ....~- ahoot4,ng the oons-ua,bJ,o :lJ.1. tl::.~ th.i.:,-i1 i·r:l.th yet anothel" pi~toJ.., . lie. tiw::,. ~&oapoa ~ e o.c.:..-- "t'1i th diplo::m t:ic nu1:1b0rs • ~uc1g.ina b1 the qi.,alf t7 of oroso-o;;::m:1inE1tion it is· a::;>pa.--ent tba:; tlle a.J?i::,el,l.a11t ~s an oi:pert of sorto. In hia dof'cnce :1e <lci,.<¥1. ~~ ollP-rggot ~-t;a:"c~:i~:i~ ~±. t~y w9,..-e p o ~ t".t!'b~i:.ion~.- .. HQ th.an dea.1.t ~t $0r.10 J.oncth o:.. tee to;-:t;ure he received c1w."'~1G ~F+".OCD +J.on t :t-th;i 0:-· .:L:.lel.i,.:clod b0i1:.c s:1.ot a:nd wom::.clcc1 in col.ci. b.1,oocll cha.:ees not caoy J_;o cJ.iscios :Lu vi.ew of tr.i._c r.1ec1i.ca.l. flicle.r."1(;,8 tcnde~jd td; the ti. .ial • I:.'2 hcl."' "judgr.1out" tho t:t•j.al nee~den'i 1-1agi.st,e t.e r.10.rel.y :.. eoo;i7'.t-ec~ Ji;b.0 ovi:Ienco ai-:d :fine.Uy 1 dov.,a~ed ;11at ''vhe eviC.:or.:.ce ot all Pl"'O.'.lGcution I S wi tneoocs •, • all ar~ ~o the etfeQt tha~ t~0 aoc~sod io rcsponoible for ~ll . -;ho fou,t, off'enoes ·~he io charced o'f:. n Sne convictec. accort:i::.1.cly, ;t:t'l :-iis a1n:,eal the apJ?eJ.lnn t ta~,;;es io :::ue with the idor.. ti ·by of' t:1e l)~:ii;o* as h~o own tc~o:.1.tii'ioati?n, 2.nd generally at·bao:ts tae juclawcnt of the trial co~rt, I think, with reopest ,. th~ tttl:.ci."c is certainly much to oi..it;I.Q~Gc ~.. tho judc,1:1cnt o:.: tI:.c court below. In this Judgr.'len~, J; ac v~tual.ly Pl 000cdi1::c by wc'.ly of rctriel. 1 I have hei.d the op:Jo:c-tu;.:.i·c7 ca:.. cf'1.,:ll7 to study the evidc.:ioG apd 1 j; tl~-ik ft was su:t:.:ioicnt to ::::uotci;.,. co:1.viction ·on cou:..1.ts one 1 · Deap;t.te J-:;I::c n:;::::,Gl.:..m1.t s i)l"'o·bootations, he wns ancl ti·ro 1 certe~J.y the pcroon -;-,~-::..o :.."'e.1: .:n-r~y on ·/:::he niGht 9:f' 15 Oo·:;obcr at-;c~ a· ~ietol. was te.~011 f':;... or.1 hir:1. Ho could not be ..iio·:;c.~:en by P1'l7 1 ~½.e .taxi driver ,kc uao oo::1voyinc; i1:i,r.1, or by P\15 1 his ,o.worlter a_t Blankot _lfu:n:u:fectu_.;,.ers :;;i::icc 1962 at whose hour:,e ho had s top:~ed to le aye his bac; anc. other i ter.1s when tho poliee on patroJ, ;i,nte:t:·l"'Uptod t::o p::. ooe5s. 1 Above all, there wao JchG ·wound~d th:i.Ghe In tho ci1..,curn:.·~cm.oeo, it wa::; ab::iolutoly ul1..."1eeessary to hold, an idc;mtif'ic2,tior:. parade. Such a paraC:.o is desirable where t:.11.oert2.int7 exists an to t:i.-20 ability of a witness to have rceo:::,1.1.isoc: a o.:.c:)ect he clnir.1s to hnv-e ·recocn.1.s . bu t . .~a; J..• • v!.1.e parnc.o • 10 w:10117 iri~elcv;;mt whoz-c tl:e ouspect is c:.n olG r::e. to of t;::-.0 ·:r:1.-c::o::::s • ?i-::.c let·cor wco ... ~ _t __ • "'\ . , . -·· ,..... .,..::., ·.~-.h.;;,.;· I f 3 - precisoJ.y the caoe hero, especiall.y a.o between tl-:e appcll~nt and ".i?W.5. On the other hanc'!. 1 the ap:_Jcl.lant tool~ issue with t:,.0 CG:rial number o.Z 'f1h.e weapon.· Aocoz-c:i:.~c ·to tfr:e evidence-the pioto1 issued to P11.8 on 24 July, 19G.5, and wh.ich could have beon otolen f'rora hio on that clay, hac:, 00;;...ial no. lT 004750, but the lJi,i:d;ol fou11d on the a.i)pGllant on 1.5 October, 1987 had serial lTo.OO47.5O, apparently without Ji;I--;.e a:i:1te "lT" • The appellant raioec: t~:1io disorcpanoy in his de:fer..ce e,;.:.c: it seer.1s to have beoi1 ack.no,·rledc·ed by the pro·seeution fol.... :2c vao c.1s:::ec"i. i11. c:ross-examina tion whether HJ:J 004750" was cli:f'f'er~nt :rrom 0 004750 11 • Unfortunately, t~:.0 learned trial maeiotrate oe.1. e.ly 1:1e11·tioned ti.:.e i-.1atte.r w"i.t!lout. 1 paying attentio11 to it, a:;:1d _doec not even ap:;_)ear to :1ave cla1'1oed at, the controver:siaJ. weaj_)OD.. I t::-,.i:-i:c, 011 r::w j_)ar.t, tLa t ·t~.:.c t,,rn aerial nur:.1bers il1dioat(;) -ti".·ro d~~:t:rc.1 0nt weapons, tmch as .Arkansas 1 .is qif.fG."ent f'ror.1 lCa.1.--:.flas • I h2.oten to ao.d, hovrever, tl:.a-l; ·bhis· view doeo not assist t7::.c a;,::.:.ellant oic.;,.tl:ficantly·. The 0:,.2.rGe in this case alleGed 1.;:i.:.lm-1:tul ponse:;;oion of' pistol Ho.0047.50 Eis distinct f'ror.1 a charge o'Z robb:i.l1G the oar,,e weapon :tram FW8, tb.e only isoue beinc ';•T!.:.etJ:e;::- h.e ~-mo in lawful posse::rnion of tl:.o How he cot tho l_)istol w2,s his own business. c.b.arce o'£ beinc in unlai'Tl'l.11 posocoaiol'l of arr.1s or aDmuni·tion the prosecution is l'lOt l:0q_1..1ir0d to eotablish how possession wao gained but merely -'chat it was e,cercioed without licence. This was established in the f'irot and zeco:,.d counto and the co;.::viction and sentence the.reon will. be suott:inGde I have entertainec! i3rnvc doubts whether the sa □ e can bG said as resards 001..1~-ts ~ a:..:cl 4. 'i.'ho third count e.llecod unla1-1:tu1 possession o-£ {servioe) stereo o/s 312A (3) of' tho Penal Code,. As already indicated tho a:_):_:;,ollant wes i'oun.d in posseosion of' two po1ice unif'orrns aoonG other police p2raphernalia. AccordinG to the charge sheet tho o.f'fenoo uan constituted by the !trn::t:::.:tha:c.Jth~se lh~ethh.ewar<:l II the propol."'ty of' t~:.o GovGn.'linc1:. t of' tho Uni t0C: Republic of Tanzania" which 1·1ore J."'"easonably ouspocted of' -~2avinc; boe:n unlawfully obtained. I think, wit:-: respect, the.t this was coi~ine issues• Gu:JBcotion (3) of ocction 31 ZA provid0s, so f'ar as it is z:clevant, tI-ie,·t, "Any person conveyil1.g oz- ·hav:tn.g in his possession••• any stores.being the pr~rty ••• of: tl~. r.tlli tary foroco of' t~2c ij-ni tee. Republic • • • she,:r'i be guilty of an of':f'cnce*' ~ 'l'l"l0. su\oc-1::ion c100s not therefore ::;;cck to cric:iinal'isc tho unai.1tI,.orioocl g,oasession of' GOVGrr...i:.0:0.-~ s-tores ae110rally but co11f'in0s its0l:.:' ·c·o that olnos of' store::, 1-f.2icl-: are, _:hnt0r al_~, t~:.c p:i.---0:-,.:,0:."'ty of: Jc:10 1:1ili tary :forces o:f t:::e Uni tee: Ro1>ublic. In :fao-t . cov-or:;:u::10:1·:; -G.:t.o.:;.""'GS . as. such arc c..ovcrec: by subs0c-'cion. (2) o'f: t110 SC:i::o :;_)rovi::;io:J. wi1ich e,p:;_)lie::; to 11 I:1e,r1:ed 11 stores only but t~e atoraa unCer su½ocction (J) need not be It :i,s saf'e to aoou1:1e t::::.a t i;.;. :-:is co:i:ft.!sion tho prooocutor U:;:if'ortl-;:1.2.. toly 1 ti..a t io not so 1 in s;110_ (2) of' tlJ.o 1Jatio1:.al :Oc:fo:.:.co Ji.ct, 1966. doct.1i:1G~ t to the tali t2:;:--y Force a of t:.:o Ur::i tod Ropub.lic ••• be read and constru.0c: ••• as rofo1.""'o:.1co::;. to tho :;Jef'enco Forces• •• •" The Defence Forces ar.o oota~]lia:1.e(, under a~ 1 o( 1) of' the Act· a.11.d consist of' tne Regular i'o""":ce 1 t:-:o ReJt;la1..., Reserver the Voluntec-r Reoervc, and "ouch otl-:0.:-· c:i:::;ciplinoc: forces ao arc ordered to be r.iobilised f'or service p-;.·_1...,suc.:-:..t to :i?nrt III of: tho f!eoor-ve Forces j-,.ct, 1965. 11 Under s.2.::, oi' t::o Hcocrve Forces Act~ th0 11 ot:~or disciplined forces II cr0 ca:;::o·!:;itutocl by t:~0 Police Force, t:1.0 Prisons Services and tI.--_u lTa.tio:..:..C'.l Service. Section 27 ( 1) of t~o iame then declares tbet in t~c ov0nt of war, ino~rrectio:i, l,.ostili-'i'.;ies or public e·.:10:..~c;o:.:cy ti:e P1...,0oido:::_·c r.12.y by p.rocJ.nr.1ation, a6ong others, order t~c ?olice Force, tho P~iso:10 Sorvicea and ti.1.0 Hational Sei"Vico O:i.""' c,~::i.y of: t:.1e1a 1 or a:iy :i_)&:i..""'"G tllorco:f 1 11 to be 1nobilisod :for sc:irvico ui tl1in t;::.·.::i vGfo,:::.co. Forces. 11 Force becoceo part of t~c Defonce Forces anG therefore nili tary forces of tho "01"!i tee: ~:.0pu°I)li.c -.:,:.~l.j :..pon :nobilioc:tion pursuant to the provioio:::1s of' o. ~:7 ( 1 ) of t:1.: ::.~occrve Fm. ccs 1 Act, 1965 • . It is alsc in t::osc ci1.'"'C"t..,GGtn.11cc~· that tho uni:forms and other p0.ra_pl:i.0r:~al.ia t~20:1. i:: ·_1so by such r.1obilised :torc0 can be said to be ·'..;:1.e pro::_:)or:ty of ti:10 .::ili t8.ry fo:;..""'ces o:f the United Republic. · Tho:..""'c ,1;-;; ~10 0,l:. ·.::.cm : o ·in ti-1.is cas c to the effect ti:?.8.t t:10 ..::1.i:forDS 2..-.c: other pa1 a:;_)hernalia :fot:;;:1d on the app0llant wore t::.0 p:i.'"'O::_)ert_ 1 of: a :-,1o;)iJ is 3d Police i.<'orce. It :follows in r.1y vim-1 t:::.:.e,·::; t~:.c o~r:·.:-:'..o:ncc c.id 1..ot' ostublish til:.o of:i:'ence charged and ·tJ.:c:.""'o s~1.oulc~ :.:r:-..vo beon a:n· :::i -::-q_ui ttcl. • - 5 - Sii-:iilarly,. ti1cr0 ~ms :;.-:.o ovi.-:.~0ricc to su::-,:_::ort t::c f'm.a.. ·t~-: count of oscapinc f'ror:1 lo:;-rf:..,,1 01.;stociy. re Morr.is,. t::.c stc:-.r 1-li tnoss in tho case, allGGcci t.:12:-';; t7.1c a:i_):_:;cllant was bcii-:c ~1clci. by a r.1ili tiar..an on0 t-.'.c:ouc.::. l:.i:1i:... i u:-:o::.c. l:.c r2.n o:ff anc: 6is2:-_:,:-_-:,ca::..~~c. , i:::1to ti10 nir::;ht •· Thi::; Et..a~::C.:i J.,.liri C:ic1 not tcsti:fy .. ot~or hand, the cviC:0~08 of t~c ot~cr_~rooocution witnoasos at t:-:i.c scene, pa:r·ticulc-,:i:"'ly t~?.o civilia;::1s -:i.01,r._3, ".iTJ.5 anC::. 2~1.7,: docs not indicate tJ.:..c: t t::o 2.:7: cllant 1.-i-2.s ever 1..;:1dcr cuctoc:y before he took of£. and gave the order to ahoot his. It was at t~at atagc tbat t~o ap:;_Jellnnt took off', cfr:ot -tl1.uv;:1 he was ;)y tl~c ~thor pol:toer.12~ I?C Jui';la. T~,.o Dodo of c:f:('oc·ti'":c a:....rost is provicoc:. :for "L-1r..c:ci.. s .11 ( 1 ) of' the Cri:-.:i;::i.2..l ::: ::.... ococ:;_1..-:ro J-;ct. touc~1.in5 or co:"1:finir:e tI,.o ~.:,oc2y o:f t::.o I)Graon hoi:nc c;;rrcato_c:, unless ther0 is n o·u::)niscio2"1 to t-10 cuot-oc.~y by ,:,rorcl or act:to_n. ~-r::.on ti.10 ap:;::,ollant ,•mo i~1tor::.~~~:_y(;oc~ i:.1 tee j_")l."'oooss of tra~-isfc::-::.~ing :1.is property :fro;-;, tl-:.c tc:J:i to t::..o :-.;.ousc of: p-;:1.5 he was :not tol.c. his ar□ s akimbo, ho ,-raG arc:o:.~oc: to put -;..1p ;:1.i::; hanC:::; • t::en trrn.t a touch o:n i.c.::..s bi1-, ro-;r02.l0cl t~:o p:;... csoneo cf e, piato1 c:nd the :;_)rocoodinGG alroncly statoc: i'ollowocl in q:.dck ou.o~cssion. 7:lha t I arJ prcl!pa1...ccl tc cr.:..y, t::::01.. 0:fo:;.~c, is the. t the ap~::-0112.nt hacl ~:>con cs tabl;i.Ghc<.'.l.. In conc].usiot, t:"1cr0:torc, i I al.lo'i,1 the a:i.,:pcc,1 on ti:.o -;;:::-_ircl and :fourth coui-1ta; c:i:nc: q1.:2,sl: t;_:..o co:,.victicn and ocntc~1.oc t::.--101... oon, . i-Io-t·rovcr, I di,si:.1iso t:10 oa1:10 on ti:10 first and· soco:1.d counts •. For t!1e avoic:lanec of c:oubt, I c:o not t:i:J.ink I ,·1ould have been :p:r-ovailcc: upou ~o o!11.1..o.:."1oc ·c::;.o ocnto:noc in t:,.o firot co::::1.t :1avii.-:G r.eg2.r.c1 to the d.iotnstcful. Ccat~..::ros o:f the caoc as n w~-:ole. ·_ 27/11/1989