Tanzania: Two Dar residents given jail sentence for armed robbery

BY KARAMA KENYUNKO.

The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday gave a 30-year jail sentence to Saud Mluka (33), and Haruna Batezi (32), both of Magomeni in Dar es Salaam, after the court found them guilty of armed robbery.

The verdict was attested by Resident Magistrate, Augustina Mmbando who said, the prosecution side through their three witnesses and four exhibits was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

Magistrate Mmbando sentenced Mluka and Betezi to 30 years in jail.

Before reading the verdict Magistrate Mmbando asked the prosecution team if they had anything to say regarding the matter, it was then that the team, led by State Attorney Kenneth Sekwao requested the court to give them severe punishment as required by the law so as to serve as a lesson to those with the same behaviour.

Reading the verdict, magistrate Mmbando said that evidence produced by the prosecution team has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.

In their mitigation the accused claimed that they did not know the offence they were being charged with so they asked the court to reduce their punishment.

According to the charge sheet it was alleged that on May 5, last year at Magomeni Mapipa in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, the accused stole 50,000/- in cash and a cell phone—Techno make worth 58,000/- the property of Athumani Said.

It was further alleged that just before stealing from Said, the accused threatened him with a bush knife in order to obtain the aforesaid stolen property.

 
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (12/03/2013): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=52222