Brian Kipkemoi Koech v Republic [2013] eKLR
and did not know why he was arrested.
On cross examination he denied that his name is Koech.
I have noted the Appellant introduced himself as "Brian Kipkemoi Mamet". On cross examination the
prosecution asked him for his National Identity Card but the court did not record what name the Identity
Card read. But in the Judgment the trial court noted that the Identity Card read "Mamit Brian Kipkemoi".
But it also noted that the Appellant gave his name to the police and the doctor who treated him as Brian
Kipkemoi Koech. The court therefore rightfully disregarded that discrepancy.
PW6 Felix Boiywo a clinical officer at Eldama Ravine District Hospital on the other hand examined and
treated the Appellant. He produced the treatment chit in this regard as P. Exhibit 4. At the time PW6
testified, the Appellant did not raise any objection to the production of the treatment chit. He neither
denied that he was treated. Therefore, although the trial Magistrate did not give regard to his defence in
the Judgment, the same is not corroborated by the Appellant's submission to the effect that he was
never taken to a hospital for treatment.
Finally, with regard to the fifth ground of appeal, the Appellant submitted that the trial court erred in
convicting him based on a Judgment that did not state the section of law under which he was convicted
as provided by section 169 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The said section of the law provides as follows:
"In the case of a conviction, the Judgment shall specify the offence of which, and the
section of the Penal Code or other law under which, the accused person is convicted, and the
punishment to which he is sentenced."
The trial Magistrate made final verdict in the following words:"I therefore find the accused guilty of the offence of defilement contrary to Section 8 (4) of
the Sexual Offences Act and proceed to convict under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure
Code accordingly. I will acquit him on count II since the same was not proved under Section 215
of the Criminal Procedure Code."
The foregoing demonstrates that the trial court fully complied with the provisions of S. 169 (2) of the
Criminal Procedure Code. It stated the offence of which Appellant was convicted as that of "defilement
under S. 8 (4) of Sexual Offences Act" and convicted him under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure
Code. He also stated the punishment handed to the Appellant as "a jail term of 10 years".
As for the sentence, under Section 8 (4) of the Sexual Offences Act:"A person who commits an offence of defilement with a child between the age of twelve
(12) and eighteen (18) years is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than
fifteen years."
The trial Magistrate therefore prescribed a penalty that was not provided by the law. Section 8 (4) of
Sexual Offences Act is framed in mandatory terms such that if an accused is convicted, no less than
fifteen (15) years of jail term should be handed. This court has powers to correct an illegal sentence.
Therefore, if I were to find that the prosecution proved its case beyond all doubts, I would correct the
illegality accordingly.
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