Case Metadata |
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Case Number: | Criminal Appeal 33 of 2010 |
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Parties: | MOHAMMED HASSAN v REPBLIC |
Date Delivered: | 22 Sep 2010 |
Case Class: | Criminal |
Court: | High Court at Busia |
Case Action: | Judgment |
Judge(s): | David Anasi Onyancha |
Citation: | MOHAMMED HASSAN v REPBLIC [2010] eKLR |
Case History: | Formerly Bungoma Cr. Appeal No. 101 of 2008 |
Case Summary: | .. |
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 |
MOHAMMED HASSAN…………………………………APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPBLIC …………………………………………………….RESPONDENT
(From the Conviction and sentence of N.Wambani, SRM in Bungoma Cr.Case No. 1478 of 2008)
JUDGEMENT
The appellant, Mohamed Hassan was charged with the offence of handling stolen property contrary to Section 322(2) of Penal Code. He was tried, and convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Kshs. 25,000/=, in default to serve prison sentence of 12 months. He appealed against the conviction and sentence.
The prosecution facts are as follows: On 21.7.2008 at
There was some other evidence that the 700 bags of sugar were released to the complainant under the sugar loading tallies Nos. 7935 and 7936 before the robbery was staged. Apparently the sugar was transported to some place called Mundika for storage before being brought to Busia for sale. Those who were hired by the appellant or appellant’s agent to transport the sugar from Mundika to
When the appeal came for a hearing the Attorney-General through Mr. Akeyo, the State Counsel, conceded the appeal on several grounds. He conceded that the sugar was not properly and conclusively identified to be the sugar stolen from the complainant’s driver and conductor. That all that could be said about it is that it originally was manufactured by Nzoia Sugar Company Ltd. and nothing more. That although all bags carried a number of serialization , no evidence was led on that to prove that the actual bags which were bought and later stolen, were the same that were impounded by the police from the appellant’s store.
Secondly, he conceded that there was no evidence that the sugar was received and handled otherwise than in the course of stealing. In other words those charged with handling could have been thieves who actually stole the sugar from the complainant’s driver and turnboy and should first and foremost have been charged of theft with the alternative charge of handling.
Thirdly, the state conceded that the sugar bags I pounded by the police from the appellant’s premised may not have been connected to those stolen from the complainants driver. The evidence accordingly did not proof the required men area that the appellant know or suspected that the impounded 687 bags of sugar were stolen prior to his purchase of them.
I have carefully considered the submissions. I am in agreement that there was no sufficient evidence upon which the trial magistrate should have convicted. There was no sufficient proof that the impounded 687 bags of sugar from the appellant were the same as those stolen from the complainant’s driver’s lorry. If all bags of manufactured sugar coming out of Nzoia Sugar Company Ltd. are serialized as put in the prosecution evidence, it would not be hard to prove that the bags impounded from appellants store were the same ones sold to cherangani Hills
The court also understands that those charged with handling of the stolen property found in their possession could be the thieves themselves. The charge of handling should accordingly be an alternative charge to a charge of theft. This was not so here.
Finally, men real is crucial in cases of handling. The prosecution has to prove that-
a) The handling was otherwise than in the course of stealing
b) The accused received he goods knowing or having reason to believe that the goods are stolen
c) The accused dishonestly undertook or assisted in retention, removal or disposal or realization of the goods by or for the benefit of another.
In this case the appellant nowhere admitted that the 687 bags of sugar or any of them were stolen or he bought them with knowledge that they were stolen or had reason to so suspect. Adding that to the fact that there was no propere identification that any of the bags was one of those stolen, the court does not see how the trial magistrate would have convicted. In the circumstances this appeal has merit and is hereby allowed. The conviction is quashed and the sentence is set aside. Since the appellant paid the fine, the same should be refunded to him. The 687 bags of sugar impounde were exhibits. They should be returned to the appellant in the circumstances of this case, without barring the complainant of filing a civil suit to show that the bags were actually his and were part of the consignment purchased from Nzoia sugar Co. Ltd but stolen in course of being transported by the complainant. Orders accordingly.
Dated and Delivered at Busia this 22nd Day of September 2010
D.A. ONYANCHA
JUDGE