FIVE BUKOBA RESIDENTS WERE YESTERDAY CONVICTED OF ARMED ROBBERY AND SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN JAIL EACH.
Before the Court were Edson Gregory (31) from Katoma village in Bukoba Rural District, Isaack Simon (40) from Custom area in Bukoba Municipality, Godwin Gaspar (38) from Kilimahewa, Kahatano Muye (38) from Ibaraizibu and Elpidius Ezekiel (23) from Kashai in Bukoba Municipality.
Prosecuting State Attorney Maswi Chema told Bukoba District Magistrate Benedict Nkomola that on March 13, 2011 at around 9.45 p.m. the five accused broke into a shop owned by Longino Anthony alias Mutaru at Katoma village in Bukoba rural and robbed various properties worth 1.7m/-.
The accused also used violence on Mutaru, wounding him seriously on the head. Ms Chema told the court that the accused were also found in unlawful possession of a home made gun (gobole) and three rounds of ammunition. Before passing the sentence, Magistrate Nkomola denounced the behaviour and sentenced them to serve 30 years in jail.
Fourth accused, Kahatano Muye and the fifth accused, Elpidius Ezekiel, faced a separate charge in Criminal Case no 36/2011. State Attorney Chema told the court that on August 25, 2011 the accused used violence to steal a motor cycle worth 2m/- and were arrested on November 28, 2011 at Katoro village in Bukoba Rural District. Magistrate Nkomola sentenced them to serve another 30 years in jail.
The sentences will run concurrently. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Felix (54) from Kashai-Omukishenye in Bukoba Municipality was convicted by the same court of unlawful possession of a home-made gun (gobole) and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
Prosecuting State Attorney Maswi Chema told Bukoba District Magistrate Benedict Nkomola that on March 13, 2011 at around 9.45 p.m. the five accused broke into a shop owned by Longino Anthony alias Mutaru at Katoma village in Bukoba rural and robbed various properties worth 1.7m/-.
The accused also used violence on Mutaru, wounding him seriously on the head. Ms Chema told the court that the accused were also found in unlawful possession of a home made gun (gobole) and three rounds of ammunition. Before passing the sentence, Magistrate Nkomola denounced the behaviour and sentenced them to serve 30 years in jail.
Fourth accused, Kahatano Muye and the fifth accused, Elpidius Ezekiel, faced a separate charge in Criminal Case no 36/2011. State Attorney Chema told the court that on August 25, 2011 the accused used violence to steal a motor cycle worth 2m/- and were arrested on November 28, 2011 at Katoro village in Bukoba Rural District. Magistrate Nkomola sentenced them to serve another 30 years in jail.
The sentences will run concurrently. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Felix (54) from Kashai-Omukishenye in Bukoba Municipality was convicted by the same court of unlawful possession of a home-made gun (gobole) and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment.