Corpun file 20125

The Citizen, Dar es Salaam, 31 January 2008

Magistrate jails seven to 400 years

By Hamida Shariff
Morogoro

A Morogoro resident magistrate has sentenced seven people to 400 years to prison with 12 strokes each after convicting them of criminal offences, including armed robbery and illegally possessing firearms.

Those sentenced on Tuesday were Omary Mbezi, 23, Victor Charles, 22, Said Chikupa, 20, Said Mrisho, 19, Jafari Mbezi, 19, John Andreya, 20 and Abdalah Isihaka, 21 all residents of Morogoro.

Resident magistrate Projestus Kahyoza said the prosecution side, led by police inspector Paul Ngonyani, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offences leveled against them.

He said the court decided to give the severe punishments to serve as a lesson to others who do not want to engage in legal work, but instead embark on armed robbery, which threatened public security.

One of the accused, Omary Mbezi, appealed for a light sentence since he lost one leg while he was in remand prison and promised not to commit such an offence again.

The prosecution side had earlier asked the court to mete out a harsh punishment to the suspects because they had a long criminal history.

Earlier, it was alleged that the accused committed the offence on July 13, 2006 at 00.30 a.m. They were armed with machetes and a gun when they invaded the house of one Jumanne Omari, it was alleged.

The prosecution also alleged that the accused stole a Sony television, Philips deck, Nokia mobile phone handset and two pairs of shoes. Other items stolen were a pair of jeans, small radio and cash Sh250,000, all worth Sh810,000.

2007-Mwananchi Communications LTD