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HB112-09 - ATTORNEY GENERAL vs BRIGHTON CHIRUKAMARI and EZELINA MILIKAFU CHISEMBE

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Bail-viz appeal against the granting bail.

Bail-viz electricity law violations re cutting of copper conductors iro railway power line.
Bail-viz Electricity Act [Chapter 13:14] violations re cutting of coppers rods iro railway power line.
Bail-viz Electricity Act [Chapter 13:14] (as amended by the Electricity Amendment Act 12 of 2007).
Bail- viz seriousness of the offence re lengthy term of imprisonment.
Bail-viz principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Bail-viz principle of the respect of the liberty of a suspect.
Bail-viz risk of abscondment re incriminating evidence.
Bail-viz Electricity Act [Chapter 13:14] (as amended by the Electricity Amendment Act 12 of 2007) violations re unlawful possession of copper conductors.
Bail-viz possibility of a long term of incarceration re inducement to abscond iro interests of justice.
Bail -viz mandatory sentence re penalty imposed by the legislature.

Bail re: Bail Appeal and Leave to Appeal iro Approach

This is an appeal against the granting of bail by a magistrate sitting at Kwekwe on the 9th day of October 2009.

It is the appellant's argument that the presiding magistrate erred by granting the respondents bail in light of the seriousness of the allegations they are facing. The appellant further argued that in view of the evidence against them, they are likely to abscond if granted bail.

In my mind, it is the question of a possible abscondment which is a major determining factor in this matter.

The first respondent was caught red-handed with copper conductors. He will have to give a convincing explanation for his unlawful possession. In the event of him giving an unsatisfactory explanation, conviction is inevitable. In the event of a conviction, he, together with Accused 2, no doubt, will be incarcerated for a long time.

Therefore, the long term imprisonment will no doubt induce them to abscond. If this occurs, the interests of justice will be frustrated and defeated.

In my mind, this is a clear case where the respondents should not have been admitted to bail.

By granting them bail, the learned trial magistrate did not properly apply his/her mind to the facts before him/her.

The appeal is upheld.

Bail re: Electricity and Power Cabling Violations

The brief facts of the matter are that the two accused, who are lovers, and not employed, unlawfully cut some copper conductors and rods from a railway power line. They are charged with two counts of this offence...,.

They appeared in court on the 9th of October 2009 and were granted bail on the following terms and conditions -

(1) The payment of US$50=;

(2) That Accused 2 surrenders his passport to the Clerk of Court, Kwekwe;

(3) That they reside at their places of residence until the matter is finalized;

(4) That they should report at ZRP every fortnight.

The respondent was opposed to the granting of bail on the basis that the learned magistrate erred by not considering the seriousness of the offence which would result in a long term of imprisonment in the event of a conviction.

Bail re: Approach iro Approach to Bail Hearings and Rules of Evidence in Bail Proceedings


It is trite law that all suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. That presumption is universal and is operational from the arrest of a suspect up to the finalization of the matter because of the need to protect the time-honoured principle of the respect of the liberty of a suspect.

Bail re: Approach iro Approach to Bail Hearings and Rules of Evidence in Bail Proceedings


In determining bail, the question of whether or not bail should be granted to a suspect, the courts should always balance the interest of a suspect vis-a-vis that of the administration of justice.

Bail re: Approach iro Approach to Bail Hearings and Rules of Evidence in Bail Proceedings

Judicial officers are urged to apply their minds to the facts, and take cognizance of the penalties imposed by the legislature in certain cases, as these give an indication of how serious the offence is viewed by society.

Judicial officers do not live in a vacuum, but in a society where such offences are, of late been at a higher level.

Bail re: Electricity and Power Cabling Violations


I would like to add, that, there is no reasonable judicial officer in the present day Zimbabwe who is unaware of the adverse effects of thefts of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), and the Post and Telecommunications, gadgets, have on the economy.

Appeal against granting of bail

 

            CHEDA J:     This is an appeal against the granting of bail by a magistrate sitting at Kwekwe on the 9th day of October 2009.

            The brief facts of the matter are that two accused who are lovers and not employed unlawfully cut some copper conductors and rods from a railway power line.  They are charged with two counts of this offence.  In fact the first offence came to light after accused 1 had been arrested for the second offence.

            They appeared in court on the 9th October 2009 and were granted bail on the following terms and conditions:

(1)        the payment of USD 50 each;

(2)        accused 2 surrenders his passport to the Clerk of Court, Kwekwe.

(3)        that they reside at their places of residence until the matter is finalized.

(4)        that they should report at ZRP every fortnight.

            Respondent opposed to the granting of bail on the basis that the learned magistrate erred by not considering the seriousness of the offence which would result in a long term imprisonment in the event of a conviction. 

It is trite law that all suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.  That presumption is universal and is operational from the arrest of a suspect up to the finalization of the matter, because of the need to protect the time honoured principle of the respect of the liberty of a suspect.

            In determining bail, the question of whether or not bail should be granted to a suspect the courts should always balance the interest of a suspect vis a vis that of the administration of justice.

  It is appellant's argument that the presiding magistrate erred by granting respondents bail in light of the seriousness of the allegations they are facing.  Appellant further argued that in view of the evidence against them they are likely to abscond if grant bail.  In my mind it is the question of a possible abscondment which is a major determining factor in this matter.    First respondent was caught red-handed with copper conductors, he will have to give a convincing explanation for his unlawful possession.  In the event of him giving an unsatisfactory explanation, conviction is inevitable.  In the event of a conviction, he together with accused 2, no doubt will be incarcerated for a long time.  Therefore, the long term imprisonment will no doubt induce them to abscond.  If this occurs, the interests of justice will be frustrated and defeated.

            In my mind, this is a clear case where respondents should not have been admitted to bail.  By granting them bail the learned trial magistrate did not properly apply his/her mind to the facts before him/her.   Judicial officers are urged to apply their minds and take cognizance of the penalties imposed by the legislature in certain cases, as these often give an indication of how serious the offence is viewed by society.

            I would like to add, that, there is no reasonable judicial officer in the present day in Zimbabwe, who is unaware of the adverse effects of thefts of Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and the Post and Telecommunications' gadgets have on the economy.  Judicial officers do not live in a vacuum but, in society where such offences, are of late been at a higher level.

            The appeal is upheld.

 

Mkushi, Foroma & Maupa, respondent's legal practitioners

Criminal Division Attorney General's Office, applicant's legal practitioners
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