Said Francis vs Republic (Criminal Appeal No. 43 0f 1996) [1998] TZHC 2477 (18 August 1998)

' I w ,. IN 1'8E RM•s ·camT· OF ARUSHA ·AT· A.RUSaA_ ➔• ' ... . l!XTOO!D . APP!LLATE JURISDICTION, . &&t'1It§w APPN0 1 IJ.3/96 ... ·' . ., . ··· {original District Court ..:r.C No.2$4/96') • . •. .J r ~ • . SAID .FRANCIS • • • • • • , , ~ ••• , APPl!LI..AN'1! . ... ,,,,, .... . •.:···· ••• •'I' •• ,· VerSllS ~ ;· : • ':, } ' ~ ,. C. TH!l REPUBIJ:C • .. , •• • •. • , • ,., • ~ . ,.· : -..· } ---·----- • • . .:,•r·:; :, i. u DJ} I M I N T .,, ./'. . W • lia B,. WAJA; . ·fflM Qtr,-• · '~~~.-. Arcisne:·-Di:-strict Gour~. (E.Sylvester, DM) · the apPQll.ant. Jp1 • .-,I, , • -:,.., "',; ;__ ;:,\ :; . l:-..,,•, •-, , . ·· .. •'t.,, :.,,•:.,,; ,\ •·;" ,: •.,'., .·' ~ • . s/•«>ITancis,p;~~~---t,u lo the offence _of reekle$S driving of a mot.oz:.-i~~cle: oh\a:· bUc r6ad c/ss 42(1)f;5 - i6,(2)(bf of' the Read ~ •· , . :, '. ,,. ' ". • l- ' •.'l'.. ~ ' • • . - . ' ·•: .. ,. • • • • ·.' •, • : :, • ... ' . Traffic :Act.,,, 1973-, ·and, wa$. santened to eight{8) mon,ths I i,i.npris(l'llllent. • . . · .... ( . . ' . .. ..•. . ... ,. , . Tl'lis is an appeal against ente;1ce, In '•tfie' petitiorr ·or Bl')peal am '-. ,, .· . ~~:-, .:-- ... ,,, ,;:·.··,., ·'' ~~·;. ' .. \ in his oral arpent Mr. Maro for the appellant ctant,end, that the trial aourt eri-_ed 1n · JJilpoaing . a P,eremptory tenμ of imprisonment considering ~ . . . :. " . ' ;:'".,•· '. . . , ,.; - ,. ' that the appel.lartt is· a first offender and had readily pleadad guilty - '"'- . .' :· '.'t;r. ♦ .o the offen:ce.. On the other bani Mr. Masara learned State Attp-ne:, · - •·,,ir ·· · ... ·: - · _ ..... ---· ....... •·'· ·.• -··· ·.• ,,;-•- -• -, .. : : ~~,-i,a-- cir _t,h~ w that th:: i'..~ cotir\ --ercised its discret ferlJr ,.. '),.. . .. . in. imposing a perempt&,y pti'son term 'arid iriVited · the· court·· to disn1S$ ':'-.{ · the ·appe. · · · ,' · -..r. · ·,.: /. ~ · ·'· ·· t It is signi.tlcant to note that the appJiant serv.ed t ot t prison ter,n, from 'Ja/9/96 .to,,lq..-10.96 when:,he was grted bail in High ct'Mio;.crirninal· appti#·~o. 26, ot 1996 pnding hearing o! this ··t•::• 1 ,-.·-:.··.:··, ··. ; ; ·.: .. 1>~ .. ' .. .- .. ·.,, .•.;,·: :J. ': ••• •• .. ., :··.,- appeal·.,, : In: ;that applieat,~on.)e-,i .tqr ,the .rajlpondent w_a.s of the ~ ~ '. • t• •.• . ., • t .,, •• • • :,~J ' • .. ·; ,., ... ;, I > ! ::• 'j. • :,.' : ,~·•: : ~- ',· • ~ ,' f that the trial cwrt erred in imposing a·· pri·s.ii spntenee ·instead .r a. fine. i\•'"' ' .. . ~ ;f r..· ;I- 1•·•::.'.·

u 2 u Tlur11ant·4>iead-~~ to ·facts 1fh1.ch sbe1f that he i:s a I , · ·-- ··--- · ... __ -dri~r of: passgt>\rehila .. (A···minibus) with reg:Lst;ration no •. .... <w 16 ;hih:pl1e$''•1t;•-l1t1ss:.~~~en Arusha and Moshi. On 21)/7/96 . . .•. . . arout,ir.4 'pm he· collideG:' with motor vehicle· reglstrati.an ·.no. ?ZG 9891 Lal1d Cruir ·while ortalci.ng motor vehicle registration no. T2'1.4307 ' ..... ~ ' : 'S..i·e,:,[.and ,Cruiser, al.brig tha Arushaftloshi road at~ araa.,. ·· . ... . . eollision was c.:..used by the. ·appe_llantts rec)4.eGS in bis JllanTl8r of drivin~ He ventured :to atake motor vehicle reg.no. Tm ,;)07 at a ... .:..ltlr.- . .. . .. ~ corner ard. at a time when motor vehic;te reg..;!I'ZG .9891 happ&nad to . ,..k..·,:.1.. ~,t ' -;. : •. I,._, ___ • be just round the bend trawlling in the opposite direct.i.n. ~ improsing the,-'se.ntenoe it did the trial.' c·oiu-t 'had: thie to eaya ,..; • , •. ,,., ... • . ·, . • • .. .• ,· . • !'•. • .. :· . fl·-: ... _ . -· ·-.r -~~--;- .t .. ; • ·- - •·• -·· ·:• · ·•• ~ "I have cons:S4~-~ tha_t tNr accused is a first offender and.: · . · :• •·has·. a i'amiJ:.y' dependint on him. Netwithstan4ing his miti.ga- ··· .- , :t.ioi:i the ~~used being •an "eXperienced iVV and drig a . . passengers• motor veh.~le .. he shouJ.d have ·been very .careibl . ·, ., .. ' and not to overtake· another veh:i.¢le at a earner. In order . to (c) terrer tlie acoused ·person and others I sentence the accused person to rsenme_.tor a term of eight(8) : months. c ·· •,

• The punishment !er t~~ offence is . provided f'1- under the pr,.im.ons -:-:. of sub-paragraph(b) of sul>asadtion (2) o! section oJ or tbe;:,Rc,ad Trtfic i . Act, 197, ~s ~ended by the Road Traffic ·(Amendment) Act, Act No.16 .... Qf 1996, hich read in part i .... .• - 0 6,3(2)/ Any person who· is·: .convicted or·- . {b) .an offence under section 41,. 42· or 44 shall be· liable ·to ·a fine of not less thah l thousam.-'shilling:,. but not/ · exceeding ;,, thousand · shillings or to a . term of imprison- ment ·of not .less than two years rut not exceeding five · . . ~ . years1 ......

: t .. • .. ,.· • t • •• • ( ... unless the ·.1'ooi-t. 'tor 'sped.al. ~ thinks .tit. to" .. inipose a .fine· - a term of, inipriscr,nent ·1ess tMn the· ·. .• ~ fine c;, the ~ ''t,erm of impr1 ep,eci.t'l.ed. under thi -o,..sect':ton. u ' . . . . . . . : '. .. ··.· .. ~ _..1-.... . ··•.;, ...• .. . .. ...... ·'· "'.,, .. . ... ;, . ..-...~~ :. ·. - ··. -·:.····•·1t.ia·1e·Wnt.s·that there· two·w : this' oferee,' .S ·,-;oo J 1t·1s a fine~ tko(2)' iesi 1mpr:e . ·.. ~ ... .... • . ' - ! .• - . • \ ► . . f,• . ,,.. • ' ment 1r·1t i~ a. cust<>dial. , t th- are ii'ied 11,' the pr-11,v.iso to -sub,.seotion· (2.) ·which permits a court to ~ ~ • ,f, • below the minimum where "ial. reascmsti ~ to In t.bia ,, ' .. ,. ' case the tr ... couy-t imi;>osed a prison ter!'1. of eight. (8) month:, 1 •.impri : • .1 - ' • . . sonment which is. £~ below the two year min:.imum. In so doing -that . : '·,.. , . . .... coUJ. .. t seems to have. been .inspired by, the fact that Jhe appel,.umt is a '' ' ". ' ' ' ,,, !:,rt offender and hae a fl. !.dependants. Mr. ~~o•s argument, •' • • • • '": • ~ 'w : .. • ,. • • • • • ho\fever t prooeedf on a d:i.t:tart. P~• '· 'Paraphr~ he says that the. • • • t• • • • , • oourt shouJ.d ~ve chosen a ~ .• as· the . .f'irst cptj.on ~stead of im:ri-u- . ~ .. ' ' . . . . '; . . .' . : . . . . ' . . - . 9!1ffit. Co7:1.!iderat,~on ~s to_ the quantum o! fine is bit. a seeon:lar1"•

issue. .. . ., . T~ court• s diseret5.on· whether tO•'impOS8 a -tine c,r. a· eentenc'e gt imprisnt-in;.a:·pi~ case)iepenis · he·~~~•··ot thq . ' ,. . . . . ' . ' ' . oftence ·.anc1 the •'1eSt:"ee · o! the· o.f tender• s eta.pebility. BQth ere ~ . . r: . ·.:. . ·, . . rt.arlt as the one.:idompliments the al-er. The .eμ-ournstances of the . · .. . . . ~ ;-:,7,,,, . . .. ., ;_. ' ·. ' ". • ... . • ' •· . .. ... • . . ·' ' offdnce show'' t,nat 11y .. choosing -to o:r.-take at a dantus spot-th& ,appg,, ~ ' ... . ' ... . ·• ~ . .. ·. . . ' . . .. , llant acted in ;tot&-1. d_:l'sre@.t"d' of the aa!ety .ot the passengers in lti.. . • :. • , • J • - .,... .. .... .,. $ : . ' ... ., • , • • , • ' ..,'. t •• ' <. .. ~ - "' e. · .. Te.chnieaμjr - ~ doe~ t.. peem .. to ~~ ~~nf;lfed,. her! :1-.:.r . " . , - . . ' . J.ane .into wch :he .. wa.s ,at;·tl;i.enter !'?-B c}or encu~.•. ·- .... ' • ~ • + •• lving regd_ to th di1,~ar, ~een ~ho epeed .•f ~s ~~ . ' . . . . . . . • I • '., ...

....... ...... That -. -~~ be.. ~ far hi&. amil.Y.14 a· ~~-·.1fhich at. that t:lln· d···not•. sem t -~~-·weighed :hev;Uy in his .:i-.on J.o aaoute. . . •· '. . .. - .. •• • ••:J 11- ,·, •• •• • : ' • • . .·, t'.bat:'e. . ".L'lles& e ~ t.o be .iullY l'efl- i: acted in the trial court • s sentencing repa?'toire. · • , . . In t.hi!> appepl.- I -nave- ·taken ·into· acc<Amt ha;t, --be appall.ant has I;', . .' .r :·· .: , •· . fi . served pzj .,of, the pr_ieon term and is now out.«'- bail. ln. W$ .. •; a.pplicatin -,io. 26 ot 1996 otth Counsel were of the view, an:1.· th& .court . •·' -: ,' .. . .... , . ..· ound, -t_hat. a •·:fine would ad.Gqllately meet the just.ice or the case. ' Hav.trii ·red t• tbat 1'incl.i,ng and t-he · ·fact that t~ appellant he.a :: . . ~ ,. . ~ . . ' ., . -':•· '.• . : .· . served some time. in prison the '-eight (8) months& imr.tri.1onmeat sen.tenco is quashe.4 and suostiutc1 in its place a·:shs 1$.ooboo iirie ~ seven(?) . . ·, ., . ' . months• im.pr,isonrl!ent -in c.1aft of· payment oi fine~:- This i_s, b\lt, part of th:e. issue.· tn the COU?'Sa of a.rpent by . , .. • t . . ,.. . . Nr. Masara, ~~ed .St.ate .. Att·ofllet; he· pointed ·out that th~ trial I ' • • •<': court. erreg tJ:C?t ocmp,1.YiJ:;lg with. the mandatory provi'sion15 ot paragraph . . . "' :;· . "' . .. . "'· ; : .. ; .. . . ' (a) of sub:,:e9ti9ri_? (1). of section 27 ,of-the Road '.lrartie Act,. 197.3. . . . .. . ' .. . . ... Those provis:i.ons read, in part i . ·. . t . • ~ . ~ •• • . . • . ' 11 27(1}. ·1my- coui-t before which a person is convicted .•:t- · :.(a) a··f:i!r-st· tiffence ·unasr·· section 40, 41t ~ ,r 44 ... · shall cano13l_r,eh.person 1 s driving lioence tor a period . l, •. • ' , •• , ot nott,.l&ss than three years and shall dee that J?el'SOn · to be ed from obtaining a dl"ivt...ng licence of_;·a,v tYPS during such period1 • •• unless the court fer spec · reasons thinks .fit to order a short.er perod of capce tion • •.. of that person Is driving lifjence ~ to· order · him to be _disqualified ,fr.an obtaining a driving lice·nce ·, for a shorter period or not to lfrder him to be. disqualitied." ,,; • 1· .•· - ' . . T reooro of the._t~.W .. coi.U't is conspioucusly silent on thi~ . - ~ matter and I mn satisfied t.hat- ahat: court erred in not addressing iteelt on this otherwise mandatory proeedur'll reCP,irement • ' . ••• /s ( )

1· '\ ) s point... and ha said that he would rather not. He ad.ded·-that he hod~ . . . . •. .. . 1t • ' to restrict his arg.unents to the ground of appeal he had filed. That .. . 'tfas very wall as far as it went and I am sure learned. CwnseJ.. u fam?l1ar with the 0-0nse~nce! wf his election. I have .n:trted with the idea

• ... :, · ·,•.f inTiting the appellan~ to addres1' t·he· court in person~ this point ...... ' blt at the and.::.f _this exercise I have formed the firm view that th$t I • •·•(• • • ' course or actin would amount to an infringement of advocate - and ... client -oonfidsntia.J.ity which is protected and ol.&rished under the latl. . . C'011\pl_ian~~ with the requirements o! section 27 of the Road Tratfi.c .. r r.· : ~ ! : . . . :·· ·: ·. ,' . . . •. ·~ . . . ·: ... : "'..: . : J:.. Act, 197.'J i~ __ .a -9.'lion of law and this curt is enjoined by statute ~ • .. • ' • • .:• • >, i.. . . : . ; '. •,• ...... ~ . . . ' .• to consjaer it as long ae_· it is relewnt. to· tl~ ap~ notwithstanli.ng . - ":; 1:': ,·,;. ·. :... -.hat it does not .fitrm part . of the ground of appeat. I may even· add, for good m~~~- that.-~ c·ew,,.l far the respondent net rai§ed it the . .,; • ,.,, • • "' . ·,•.· I ' , • court was bound_to. rais t .Q. ~~ttu. That Ceunsel for the appeJ,J.ant, , . ·.·. ·. . . : : . '" ~ , ~ - ,;i l J ·<' 1! ,.. has chosen not t,.a addr.es .the ewrt on the point does not preolude tho. - ,'~-,~~! . I ea.,.rt .fr()ll1 _adjUdicating on it. He was gi.ven he ppartunitJ t :do •, and chose lihat he perhaps believeo is in the st interests ot. his 12.ient. . ' ,· 1'" ,. ' ~ In this appeal .the recerd shows that the Qirtances l.ta.ding ta , I the a.ccident ware entirel.Y of the appellant I s own making, The 1,1.rgeney that led ltim to overtake another motor vehicJ.e at a Corner ts neit,he,:o ,e nCK' there. Appellant as a driver is, to s the lea1,, a men&Qe on the road, Everyone will undou'btely agree that. road users hav a ri(glt to ~ . protected .from the class or persons of the appellam; and it is within the court I s power under the .law to promote this prfecifl. In tei:ms of seet'ion 27(l)(a) of the- Tra!i'ic Act, 197; the ~ent . . . driving licenoe •! the ap1pellant said Francis is ~ceU£,d and he is . 1.: ,· . . disqu.aJ.i.t.Lad from •bt.aining S110ther driving licence. of any class or . . . . description far a _period of two(2) years with effect from the date f>f this j\ld.~ement. • •• /6

.:~ ,!.. ,.. . ~ ·"' .... ,:: ~ --;., .. ·' -' ·;i- !,.:; "'·z.·,, . • "! ·:.-· :_ {'(.- · .. ~ .,. f -t! ,.- ..... . ... , . . ,, f' ~ . .,. t ' :-& 6 . ·H .,': (- / ,e»• ., . -~ (We N. B. tpaya) PRU (m' ,JURISDICTION} 18/8/98. .... ,, Moo - • J ,. Delivared·.in: c&.J:1rt-thi$ 18th day of.August, 1998 il\ .t-he.pr . ' . . . ' ... ,.. ' : . ... ~ of- Mr, Maro for the ·?ppeUarit and il;1. the presence. of Mr •. Masara !or the. • ' 'I • • 'o1•., resporrlent •. · '.1 ,,•, ~ r ,#.,,.~ ti • ,. ... .,,_ 't:=t .. i'· I 1,,T: AfiUStJt. l,jth Au~~t:_ 1998, ,. WNal{/el. . •: ., ,,;!- - \ .... ,. ~ ... ,. i .· . ;.. . ,f . -:·· . .,, .. •'. .. _,,: ... . • . \ I,. . }..__,I;-.,., ,. ·· .... --- (w, ._ N ,. B,, ."-Kapa,a),. ._ ' • , • •• 11 • •• I I,• • • ,. • ' • "I ~ '• -PRM .(T.JPRISDIGTI) ,, : , .. . ......... . · .. · - .. 1/8/9$ ci,. •. ,· .~, .. ,.,. ..... ~:ft 'l ••· .. .;, '';' ~::. ./, ~ •· -!: ":f • :.•:-,,. ..·1,. " ·• . . .... ' :, / ) .