Athuman Tsuma Zuma v Republic & 1 other

“On diverse dates between November 2005 and 12th day of February 2006 within Mombasa District of the Coast Province being the occupier of a rental premises induced Z. N. N a girl under the age of sixteen years to be upon the said premises for the purpose of having unlawful sexual connection with ATHUMANI TSUMA ZUMA Both the 1st and 2nd Appellants were represented by MR. MAGOLO Advocate in this matter whilst MR. ONSERIO, learned State Counsel appeared for the Respondent State. As a court of first appeal I am mindful of my obligation as laid down by the Court of Appeal in the case of OKENO – VS- REPUBLIC [1972] EALR 32 as follows:- “It is the duty of a first appellate court to reconsider the evidence, evaluate it itself and draw its own conclusions in deciding whether the judgment of the trial court should be upheld” I will proceed to consider each Appellant’s appeal on an individual basis as they each faced different charges. With respect to the 1st Appellant the State through Mr. Onserio has conceded the appeal. This is due to a defective charge sheet. I have perused the said charge sheet and I note that the word ‘unlawful’ was not included before the words ‘carnal knowledge’ in the main count. It is very clear and has been stated severally that in charges brought under S. 145(1) of the Penal Code the charge sheet must include the term “unlawful carnal knowledge”. In the case of NGENO –VS- REPUBLIC [2002] KLR 457 it was held “Section 145(1) of the Penal Code (Cap 63) provided that a person who “unlawfully and carnally knows any girl under the age of fourteen years is guilty of a felony ...”. The section was clear that the offence created by it is committed if the act of carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of fourteen is unlawful [my emphasis]”

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This is the position for charges brought under the Penal Code. The position would be different if the charges were brought under the Sexual Offences Act 2006 which repealed S. 145 of the Penal code. However the charge against the 1st Appellant was brought under the Penal Code and thus the ruling in this Ngeno case is applicable. This is a fatal defect in the charge sheet and it is not curable under S. 382 of the Criminal Procedure Code. On this basis alone this appeal succeeds. I do therefore quash the conviction against the 1 st Appellant. The attendant ten (10) year sentence is also set aside. Mr. Onserio for the State has asked that I order a retrial in the matter citing the serious nature of the charges and the fact that the complainant (victim) was a minor. A re-trial would ordinarily be ordered where there was a procedural flaw in the lower court, or where a trial is rendered a nullity through no fault of the prosecution. This cannot be said to be the case here. The defect in the charge sheet can be blamed on nobody else but the prosecution who alone are responsible for framing charges. To order a retrial would amount to allowing the prosecution an opportunity to rectify their errors – to have a second bite at the cherry so to speak. In the earlier cited Ngeno case Hon. Lady Justice Sarah Ondeyo (now retired) held “A retrial can only be ordered if the proceedings themselves are defective. In the present case, there was no charge before the court which could have formed the basis of the proceedings. A retrial would enable the prosecution to amend the charge and that would subject the appellant to double jeopardy” This was a case on all fours with the present case. There was no defect in procedure. The charge disclosed no offence known to law and thus cannot be rectified through a retrial. I am mindful of the serious nature of the charges as well as the young age of the complainant but I find myself with no real alternative but to deny this request for a retrial. The error made by the prosecution in drafting the charge cannot be cured by way of a retrial. Therefore I find that the 1 st Appellant’s appeal succeeds. His conviction which was unlawful is quashed and his sentence is also set aside. The 1st Appellant is free to go unless he is otherwise lawfully held. With respect to the 2nd Appellant the charge sheet cannot be held to be defective as the word ‘unlawful’ was included in the particulars. The complainant in her evidence testified that it was the 2 nd Appellant who came and called her to his house to wash utensils as his wife was in hospital. The complainant who knew the 2 nd Appellant well as a neighbour willingly agreed. PW2 L.N thea complainant’s mother confirms that the 2nd Appellant was their neighbour and further confirms that the complainant often used to go to his house to assist with household chores. However on the material date the 2 nd Appellant called the complainant to his house where the 1 st Appellant was waiting for her. The 2nd Appellant then left the two inside together and locked the door. At page 12 line 18 PW1 states

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“I was left in the house with Athuman [1 st Appellant]. Shaban [the 2nd Appellant] locked the outside. I know the door was locked or bolted from outside because I tried to open the door just then but the door would not open” The complainant went on to testify that this was the trend on many subsequent occasions. At page 13 line 25 she states “Another day Shaban [the 2nd Appellant] invited me to his work place in Bondeni area; where he works in some residence. I was escorted to that place by Shaban’s uncle. Shaban then telephoned Athuman [the 1st Appellant] who came and joined us in Bondeni ..” It is manifestly clear that it was the 2nd Appellant who acted as the go-between for the couple and he availed his house for their lovers tyrsts. PW2 the complainant’s mother confirmed that her daughter confirmed to her that the 2 nd Appellant would allow her to meet her lover inside his house. I have no doubt that the 2 nd Appellant was fully aware that the 1 st Appellant and the complainant were engaging in sexual intercourse inside his house. PW5 CHAKA BORA confirms that the 2 nd Appellant was his tenant in the house in question. The 2nd Appellant was well known to both PW1 and PW2 as he was their neighbour. PW1 often used to go to her house to help with household chores. There is no possibility of mistaken identify. I am convinced that the 2nd Appellant was fully aware that PW1 being a school girl was a minor yet he went ahead to avail his residence for the 1 st Appellant to defile her. The fact that PW1 was a willing participant in this lover affair is not a defence as the law forbids any act of sexual intercourse with a minor. S. 149 of the Penal Code under which the 2 nd Appellant has been charged provides “149 Any person who, being the owner or occupier of premises or having or acting or assisting in the management or control thereof induces or knowingly suffers any boy or girl under the age of sixteen years to resort to be upon those premises for the purpose of having unlawful sexual connection with any person whether the sexual connection is intended to be with any particular person or generally is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life”

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I am satisfied that all the ingredients of this charge have been proven as against the 2 nd Appellant. His conviction was based on sound law and fact thus I do hereby uphold the same. The learned trial magistrate sentenced the 2 nd Appellant to serve ten (10) years imprisonment. Mr. Onserio learned State Counsel submitted that this sentence was unlawful. I have myself looked at S. 149 of the Penal Code. I note that it provides for a maximum sentence of five (5) years on conviction. I do find that the ten (10) year sentence was in the circumstances unlawful. I have considered the serious nature of the offence. The complainant was a minor. With the active participation and encouragement of the 2 nd Appellant, she was being regularly defiled in premises which he provided for that specific purpose. In my view he deserves a stiff sentence to deter other would be offenders. I do hereby set aside the ten (10) year sentence imposed by the lower court and substitute a five (5) year term of imprisonment. Dated and Delivered in Mombasa this 19th day of July 2010. M. ODERO JUDGE Read in open court in the presence of:- Mr. Magolo for Appellants Mr. Onserio for State

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M. ODERO JUDGE 19/7/2010

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