Case Metadata |
|
| Case Number: | Criminal Revision 56 of 2003 |
|---|---|
| Parties: | Joseph Natwat & 10 others v Republic |
| Date Delivered: | 15 Oct 2004 |
| Case Class: | Criminal |
| Court: | High Court at Bungoma |
| Case Action: | |
| Judge(s): | Joseph Kiplagat Sergon |
| Citation: | Joseph Natwat & 10 others v Republic [2004] eKLR |
| Case Summary: | [REVISION] Criminal procedure - applicants pleading guilty to being in possession of traditional liquor - Traditional Liquor Act sections 25(1),(4) - accused convicted and sentenced to a fine of Kshs. 5,000 of 3 months imprisonment in default - record showing that the applicants had pleaded guilty to the charge without a reading of the facts - failure to explain to the accused every ingredient of the charge rendered the plea of guilty equivocal - failure by the trial court to take into consideration relevant material factors before sentencing the accused - order of revision. |
| Disclaimer: | The information contained in the above segment is not part of the judicial opinion delivered by the Court. The metadata has been prepared by Kenya Law as a guide in understanding the subject of the judicial opinion. Kenya Law makes no warranties as to the comprehensiveness or accuracy of the information |
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
REVISION CASE NO.56 OF 2003
JOSEPH NATWAT & 10 OTHERS
VERSUS
REPUBLIC
The applicants pleaded guilty to a charge of being in possession of traditional liguor contrary to section 25(1) as read with section 25(4) of the Traditional Liquor Act. The particulars are that on the 25th day of September, 2003, at Nambaone village, Nasusi Sublocation, Maeni Location, Bungoma District within Western Province were jointly found being in possession of traditional liquor, busaa to wit fifty five (55) litres without a permit from the Authority in contravention of the Act.
They were each convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh.5,000/= and in default to serve 3 months imprisonment. The senior state counsel referred this matter to this Court to consider the Judgment on revision under section 362 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The records availed to this Court shows that the applicants pleaded guilty to the charge without the facts being read. It is clear that the prosecutor did not read the facts as required under the Provisions of the Criminal Procedure code. She only stated as follows:-
Facts as per charge sheet.” In the circumstances since the every ingredient of the charge had not been explained to the accused persons, the plea was not sufficient to amount to a plea of guilty.
Consequently, there was no competent plea to support a conviction.
The record also reveals that the accused persons past records were not provided to the trial Court before sentence. The accused person’s mitigated but the trial magistrate did not note that he considered their mitigations. Consequently, it is clear that the sentencing magistrate did not take into account relevant material factors before sentencing the accused persons. This is a great misdirection which led to the trial magistrate tendering a sentence of high fines of Ksh.5000/=. The law under liquor Act sets a maximum fine of Ksh.6000/=. The trial magistrate did not justify a fine of Ksh.5000/=.
In the end, I think this is a proper case which I should exercise my discretion on revision in favour of the applicants.
The upshot therefore is that the conviction is quashed and the sentence set aside.
Dated this 15th day of October, 2004.
J. K. SERGON
JUDGE
Please Wait. Searching ...