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James S/O Sendama versus the Republic

Country/Territory
Tanzania, Un. Rep. of
Type of court
National - higher court
Date
Jun 3, 2014
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Court name
Court of Appeal
Seat of court
Tabora
Reference number
No. 279B of 2013
Language
English
Subject
Wild species & ecosystems
Abstract

The appellant was found in possession of 71 pieces of elephant tusks and stood trial before the district court of Shinyanga as presided over by a Resident Magistrate.

The appellant appealed to the High Court but the appeal was dismissed. He then lodged his appeal to the Court of Appeal under grounds centered on the lack of jurisdiction of the trial court to try the offence because the offence was committed outside the district of the court and that the DPP had no power to delegate his statutory obligation of granting consent to prosecute in other court than the high court, hence, the certificate was void.

The Court of Appeal has revised and quashed the lower courts’ proceedings and judgment and set aside the sentence. However, in view of the fact that the appellant faces a serious economic crime and has spent only 4 out of 20 years imprisonment meted out on him, the court ordered that he should be retried by a court of competent jurisdiction constituted by another magistrate with requisite jurisdiction, with immediate dispatch. In case of another conviction, the period that the appellant has so far served in prison, is to be taken into account.