Robert Mwangale Mutoro alias Rajab v Republic [2018] KEHC 4046 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITALE

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 3 OF 2018

(Being an appeal arising from conviction and sentence in Kitale Chief Magistrate's court in Criminal case No.  2303 of 2017 delivered by  P.C. Biwott Senior Principal Magistrate on  8/1/2018)

ROBERT MWANGALE MUTORO ALIAS RAJAB................APPELLANT

VERSUS

REPUBLIC..............................................................................RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT

1.  The appellant was charged with the offence of Stealing Stock contrary to Section 278 of the  penal code.The particulars  of the charge were that  on the 8th June 2017 at Masaba village in Kiminini  sub-County within Trans Nzoia County, stole one brown cross-breed cow valued at Kshs 20,000/- the property of Selestine Wafula.

2. The alternative  charge was handling stolen goods contrary to Section  322 (1) (2) of the Penal Code.  The particulars of the charge were that  on the 8th June 2017 at Maliki Trading Centre within Kiminini Sub-County within Trans Nzoia County , otherwise than in the course of Stealing, dishonestly retained one brown cross-breed cow valued at Kshs 20,000/= the property of Selestine Wafula having reason to believe it to be stolen property.

3.  He was convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment hence this appeal.  The brief background of the evidence and facts presented during trial were that PW1 the complainanton 7/6/2017  fed her cow and closed it in the shed at 7. 30 pm. When she woke up the following day the shed was broken and the cow missing.  She reported the matter at Kiminini police post.  Later she was called by the Administration Police at Maliki to identify a recovered cow.  The suspect was equally arrested.  After the photographs of the cow  were taken they released it to her.

4. PW2 Peter Wamalawa Kauka said that he was a business colleague of the complainant.  He went to buy maize in the morning  of 8/6/2017 and he found the appellant arrested with a stolen cow.  The person who arrested  the appellant was the Seller of the maize to the witness.  The appellant could not explain where he had gotten the cow from.  After  interrogation they found the cow  belonging to PW1.  She was called  by the chief.

5. PW3 Daniel Poloo from Kitale police station carried out the investigations  and recorded  statements from the witnesses. He also took the photographs   which he produced.

6. When put on his defence the appellant gave sworn evidence denying the charge.  He said that he was on his way from home to Maliki to put cane on the tractor at 5. 00 am and as he waited for the tractor 2 men passed by and  talked over a cow that was passing by. He was then questioned over the same when they saw scars on his head.  He was framed as the thief.

7. On cross-examination he said that apart from him, there were 7 other people around.

Analysis and Determination

8. The court has perused the proceedings  carefully as well as the submissions by the appellant and the learned State counsel.  The  learned State counsel conceded to the appeal which in my  view was rightly so.

9. From the evidence on record, PW1 did not see the thief. She only woke  up in the morning to find  he cow missing. She was later called and  notified about the recovery.

10.  Further none of the witnesses actually and categorically stated that they found the appellant in physical  contact of the cow.  PW2 stated that he was informed by his  supplier/Seller of the grain concerning the incident and when he went to the scene, the appellant was  unable to explain where he got the cow.

11. Possession has been defined in the Black Law Dictionary 10th Edition as

“The fact of being or holding property in ones power the exercise of dominion over property.”

12. There is no evidence that the appellant had actual contact over the cow.   For example  had he tied the Cow?  Was he driving it?  None of the witnesses was able to explain this.  I find  no proper witness was able to explain that he was the first to see the appellant with the cow.

13. It is presumed also from the evidence that the scene where the cow was found was a public area which  therefore required that evidence ought to have been led to show that the appellant was in actual contact of the cow.

14. For the above reasons the appeal succeeds.  The appellant is set free unless lawfully held.

Delivered, signed and  dated at Kitale this  26th day of September, 2018.

__________________

H.K. CHEMITEI

JUDGE

26/09/18

In the presence of:

Mr Kakoi for the Respondent

Appellate present

Court Assistant – Kirong

Judgment read in open court.