Corpun file 15428

The Guardian, Dar es Salaam, 30 March 2005

Six get 60 years for burglary, theft

By Guardian Correspondent

(extract)

A Dar es Salaam court has handed six people a ten-year jail term each for burglary and theft.

The six include two women, 50-year-old Asha Mzee and Fatuma Mohamed, 28. Others are Abdul Juma, 33, Said Abdallah, 28, Juma Khalfan, 18, and Nestory Richard, 19.

The Kinondoni District Court also ordered that each convict receives 12 strokes of the cane, six of which will be administered at the start of their terms and six at the end of the sentences.

The sentence was passed without the accused being present in court after jumping bail. The six have been on the run for about two years.

Resident Magistrate Stahimili Ngawasya said the sentences would come into effect when the fugitives would be re-arrested. “They will begin serving their sentences once they are arrested, whenever that will be,” he said.

The six were found guilty of breaking into Kisare Magati's house and stealing various items valued at 1,080,000/- on April 16, 2003 at Mwananyamala.

The stolen items included sewing machines, electric irons and mobile phones.

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