Ngulube v R (Criminal Appeal 80 of 1992) [1994] MWHCCrim 1 (7 March 1994)

L Ref No I1U/CR/57 /9/92 IN THE HIGH COURT OF M). LAWI LILONGWE DIS'frtICT HI'. GIST11Y CRIMINli. L APPEXL NO. 80/92 i\. UIHDE TCHAWALA NGULUBE ?EfiSU3 THE IiEPUBJ.,:rr_;. F.1'.'om the Chief Resident MD'.:;istrntec Ii~ court. at £-fzuzu Criminal Case No. 80/92 CORA!l: For the State, Nyirendn, Senior State i\dvqcatc A,::ipellant unrep1'ese:1ted Law Clerk, Chi1on.go Machine Operator-, Htunuuwathn This is :'\n a?pcal by a person who is not represented. by counsel o Tl10 :srouriC!s of· appeal a1."e r.:--rther let1g:·(.hy bt1.t could9 if drafted by cou,isel, be condensed to the oft u:30(} form, to wit, :irrhat · the judsmc~nt shculcl be sot aside that it cmmot oc supported hnving rot't.'trd to on the ground th,, :::TL/'.ence11• The np~:eilo.nt war; cl1F>rg0d and con vie ted wil;h theft '0y servant ccmtrary to S" 27B as r·e::aG with S. 28G ( 1) o-I the Penal Code. It is 8-1107.od thnt ho stole th0 sum of KlO, 400 the property of Kandodo othec-wiso know::,. ,-:1s Import and Export Company who were his employers r~t the materic-.1 time. '?./ Q •• -2 -l'!ecdlcas to za.y i t.he cvide!1ce e.. Jrti:.lst t:i"1e appell8nt iB ov,~r· whclr:1:t:1.g c 1':\:1 at1c:i to~ :t or10 tJ\l lii;,'\rn \·Jay1cl·J.lo :i ·.:"3r;-:!~:i. fie( th.n<: 1-10 v1as tl10 com~:.,cu1y cttldi tor-fc;:!'." l(r:'::-:dodo \Jhic:\ . ts :1.r1, ttffilj_ '.~:y,~e-of t~.ho Imp01't ,\,_d ExrJor-t Comp,my. As the Com;,Ktny AucU tor, he 0.ud.i ted Kandodo Supe2•ette in Mzuzu, 1:md. wes th<J lcrider of th,; ~,:di t ton.m, In the cour·sc of ·chc aud:.tp they found !(4,:122.22 :l.;:, the sFtfe a:1d the up:;_)ellant failed to r,:.ccou:Tt for Kl0,~-00. C::5. Tho sho;_) mo.nage.:· nlco tcst5.:t~icd. tl1nt-110n m:mc1ay, 16th Au[:.us~; I :..'cported fo2 1uticn ct 6, 30 '1..,nlo r.rho et~cu.sed nl30 rcport~C fo.~ dttties nt G.30 a..,m. We usecl the r·cs.r door of the shop. The c~,:sI1ic:.-· .:;-1me to me. 1,•,dth ,::i. till oli) <'.'>:f 16th J\ugurrt, bank:i.r1P, sl:3.p for Sunday so that }1e shculj _q;o n..nd b8J.1!:t 0 I for·.~et tho sales of Sund3.y. . L L.iC~ si~~n for tl1crn.. lie \:lCD:t; to tt-~c bani-~. 'l'hcr1 't~1c nc(!lJ. SO<J r.:Jtu::";1od to tht1 ,:~~1.0~1 t;7'H1 r;ait1 !:!<~ l1aO. fa.il<J(~ to bank money bGc8uso the money for Fr:'i. J1:-.y anti for Saturd'1.y had turned into uscl.0ss :x1p0rs, ,; It is tjis wi·~.n8ss' ovic1ou ,a thc".t a"tthou£~h th0 audit cm,1menced before the arncJ.12,nt was p!'czent, the scd.d appe:'"J.ant later joL1ed th.:: audi cu1~::; ns th.:y conti:ruod with the 2.u<li t. Tho thi.cd prcsecution wi t0,0ss wr.:.s ilobso~1 ;1w,?.mber-~bc. It wn.s t1is e·\tidc11cc th_;_:.1t ir1 tl1c ~11 .... esGrice of tt10 ::1.;,~:,cl lan.t )I ho mat a h.erbalir.-;t 1tt1ho cln. Ln1.ad tlH .. it ho r:~ould co1T',101"'t o;-,.o I(v1acl1a n . ..-.;tes iD.to le!"r:a de1101nlr1r1tions. 'fhis v1c:G tlemonstra~:r.. H .. ~ n.nc. c:1. K.l.'Iacb.n ~10--'cc wns converted i:\to K15. C0 \'1ilich we.. G in two L?,::•.'-:: .-10-r:es, thA.t 1.8 KlO ai1d K5. These notes ;,rnrc ~)rtud new, anf wc,:-c, produced 2f'to::' the herbalist Gaid some pro.:;:c·rs over tho one ,(wa<~hr'.. which ws.s ·)lacoc: in e~ note boo!-~ o li\.-.re:.mb8rr1be r11so ::_;nvc (:!\tl.dl~nCf:? that the the t:"i.ppe J. tai1t with bu~·,d}. Qs of mo11t.~~/ c:~H.1 tl1 is i-'lo:1dc:y when thE: ap1)ellan·:; fctilc-:1 t.o rnnl~e on Satu::·di,y ~ he saw is the Saturc.ny b ::fore R ba::,kin:~ of t.:,.:: mow:iy coll-.'.)ctcd over the weokend 3.t; the Su:)ero·::to. Ths f~Jurth ·,1roscr:utirJn wi tneas was So:..~g,1::mt Ng i omn of Mzuzu Polj_ce. Fe h:istif:i.e•:: that he reccivecl a corrqln.i.nt ,:m 17th !,ur:ust 1992 that Kl0,400.00 wo.s stolen from t~10 a}po llnnt by a Tru1z.:::mian by ::12.sic. Later r the appclJ.ant eonfcssc:..1 tl1r1t h.o hc.(l ~toJ.e]1 t!.1.~') .. t rno~.oy o I-le t0:-:1Cl0red n co:nfession statcmc:t1t v1h~~ch t..'12-.3 ::....,.~~t.-~f' .. ~:.tf;C to nt ··the t~inl. '.:lolow. effect i:iagic ~(he 2-..npellr.1rr:: cl1ooc not: -to call c1:1.y w·i.tnens in the ccurt I-i~ tcst;ifiG('~ '"l.t ~:rer..(.t lor1,ztl1 ).> ru1<.: his 8'"J"i<.~er1c,~ v1r::s to tl1G that the mor..,Jy wns si.;olen from hirn thrcngh tho medium of by e 'J].~n.zar1iRn (\ It is cleRr f:~or:1 ·t:ie !Yt .... osc~cution r.;vidcr::1~~c thP..t the ap)ollant too!( the snlcs :;.n·ocecds a:1::.! tried to multiply 3/' .. thE: sfl.me c:c,nnG ,1 in with th8 the GGGistal1(!G c,f ~JJ ... ·0'-]G:JS :i.n. C 1 ost 3 to his cmp.? .. 0yc;-:•r; ., The appellei11·t t.:stificrJ that the Ta~1ze;1ian covertc,1 KL 00 into XJ.5. 00 therob;:, Cffl:fir,-1:i.r,~~ the o·ncwnce of !ir rit:ambom'.10. That is how tho ev:i.d(;\1ce was Drc8on c.::::1 in thG court ~)c::low. tho ,:Firstly I must )oint out thPt I ma 1o:ft in no dou!.)t th">.t tho cal cu 12t:;.o•:1s :nndc ~)Y th,.:) 0u:h•;;or n.;,c! h i.s team wcr.:, correct. I h~.vo De1~scc1al1~_r Gxa.mi·ncd th.0 rcic~1~-:-i.11i: doct.1rncnts ~.nd -~:111c rel.8VCJ.'li": e,ti,Jen.ce I r:ot tl·!~J .iraprossion thnt tho fi.rI.t11:~o c\f 1f.10 9 400. 00 is the corr:.:ct :y1e with respect to money :~,ot accou:,rt:ed. fo:c. I :find as a f.-1ct that the total sun, missing '~::s KlO,L'.-00,00. 'L:lio finding is bG.3Cd on the ev:".d.1nco of' PWJ whc checked th0 mo>1;~y Emd the documcn::G nfte.c:-ti10 ~1ccusec he.d 1·ctur-::ted f:.:'om thG b0..nk. Hav:i :1e; mc:c.1o thi8 f:Lnd.ing one needs to '.;O fu,.·tho:c to dt,t,orminc whether tho nccus-;:;d ;;,ersot\ is l'C8'>Of1siblo for nlJ. th:i.s ,".mount, In this regard t:w accused :'.")erson acce:Jts the :f:i.;_!:ur,:, ·-~3, 037, ll bcin8 ?Ltt"t of the mit1Gi n_g r;1oz1oy o I .fi.:1.(t th:1:'; t::-1e acc1.1:-Jed ic l"-OG:J'.)~:1~~1.-- ble for' this fi.zurc ~ 'fl1c n•::xt qu~!stio?1 is 1.vl1etl1cr· tl'"J.e a.cct1scl} IJe:..~son is alr10 r.cc.;_)or.:,lblo for the :;D.lnnc8 from tho ICJ. O, 400" 00. It 5.s iiY(>ortn:}t to !1ote 1.1.erc thr1t th(! nccuscd :JersoD. d.iC. 11ot p~.---uc2ccl to banldnn; the mono,y "lnd ho rntar;,ed with it to tho shop m8.11nger. The c.ccused cJ.aims t:1::::.t he did 11ot cou::1t at +.1-ic ban'x. :In:.:it,3nd he rushed back to tho si.,c-::, an('. !'. J.2. VC th,:: ::-cr.10 . ..i.ni":,:: ,;nney tn -che PW2 the sh:,p mana,3er. Hero a,:r:dn there wns no cc,untinz e.t the time of the hand.ii',,:; ovor. PW2 ~,im;:ily ;:;ct tlle mc.,ncv am'! kept it whi].e the accuser~ went to look f'.)r his suspect, The sad thin:-; l. ...• .:'J thnt c0unti n::;: ,,f tho rcmaini 0.f money was :::J,·,nc of the aceu.aed IJerso.n o •ihis lt3 mt)St unf'ort.~tE1ate:, n?.'J.ses thr1t son1cb(1dy clso t-.ptt:'t f'rorrl t_j1e a.ccuscd raaJtr ·n::~,t~J ·ta.k:en the mo,1By f.:·on the alrondy depleted -'lmounc 9 f-J~' nov thcr0 '.it,1.s every oppo1~tur~i.ty fo~' ,loin°: so especially -.:m th<1 :Jart of P\\12 tha sh0,;, rr1cmn::cr o Jt 1na:t 1fJe 11 hfl.':lO biJ~~n. fi. t:".'i. c1~ o!1 t!i2 p.~~t of· tl1c r-tcc1--;.3Qd tc h&1.dr;vor tho rcma:i.ninr; r.1.:mey 'co ?\!2 wi. tlv-)Ut ccun Lin;:-'. it i:mt -';:;here is no mrid,:lnc,a to su.;_--,)<.:n~t th;:r'..:. If it wru1 ::,_ ,;;:'iC):{ ther~ PW2 wns fo,:ilisi1 t.-> hnvo fnllen L·d;o ·:.;hr-:i: t::·ni), I.; w::.s fc•olish '.:.;f PW2 t,, tr-d-::e ciu::r;:::0 c:f tmc,;.~u-0:'.-,c:-l c2,,!l ';Jt::·t.i.,:::ul'. U·ly when there was nlready n..:1 alJ.cf:<lti-:,n of theft Dertn.in.in[. -.~.) it. That conduct of PlV2 cortain. J.y seriously d.n.rnnges t:rie c::tsc ::)f ~c:r1e pr0sccu~::to:n in .1'os;,ect of the '.'.l•1lance refer•r~d tc, ahcvc. \.\lcs"38 s-dll counU.::i.c~ was don.2 5.n the absence :::,f tho r.ccused :;,er-son. It is difficult to ~in tho accu"i,,t1 c1own o;-1 this 0:-10 becam.;o thn accused car1.:1.o·;~ confirm the accu:r.·ncy of sui::h c;'.)un-cin'.-.:• 4/ 0. 0 I :tt:~ tl1e:rof~·.)t'f; 1inn;.1lo tc.., fin.d t .. hc F\CCus~d x•e3·1r.:,n2.--:j):tr; ftxr· t:1'1~ dls- C.i. JI)C~.:1:~~cn·1co c:f thG •d!1.,_,J,e !{1() r ~-00 .. 05. ,i ser.tcr1cod to 4 yec:t.t·s ir:,pri.sc/1·:c1i::~11t ~.-,i th ho.~d n.pr,ellont cnnr.10~::; riot; be he:--··:.rd >o ho\tJ t}1c figu:r'c 0f i:10'J400ci05 '>IR:3 1c.~."Jov.r~ f(.r theft; of :~o ~ 037 o 11 C ffho n ... ~:-:uc tr1r1.t hG docs 11.0+, ti:nde!·sta11d 1~Gduced to I{S, 037 .11 by the Lr-i :'\l c,.f· .o.c :1:vnil to tl·1G-appellrt~·1t to QC·~--()11'!.(t:tt GC VJ:L tn~)GS c .. nd. th.e t.~i ~J_ it nrguc Hwambcmto :-~rin:istrR.te b:J.scd ·~!1.0 ~011\ri:.::;-tJ_o~! 7.)ri:.1cip~11:>.. 01: tl10 evidence tJf t:1a.t \ti "j_:;1cos o The 1.::1~·:t ct!'.f~t!Dten t p:: cse~·1tcr·~. by tlh:; appel1r:.:n.t is thnt his \)ffiploycrs dt smi.8sod hi~:1 after' }11.s ct'.:n-vict.i/; -:_ was e:i.t-ercs..1 by the trin:... as a v•c1ouble le .. ~:11 hi3tory r:~0;!:t for tl1e Lilongwe. cou.rt blow". Douh1c ;,1.:,w or r .. o-c :r tm :w cf :n c,.::r.vict i'"l \lihc ::10t.8.iil.(;d l-"1i:~ j ~/'"J a.ft01. ... ~)~1i11{; ~,.:.::Ytc11e.:3c! to im?rison-of:fc;.1co ·. Jf" thoft bJT S~.~V£~r~to Th8 ci:-,r•c9.ls ~r:r1.inst \ .. >, J. Bo Kalaile ~JUl)GE