The Appellant was in possession of a firearm with which he used whenever he committed acts of robbery. The police carrying a search warrant, visited the Appellant’s residence to conduct a search. The search was conducted and the Appellant showed them the pistol make Browning which he had hidden in a bucket in the toilet. Upon further search, a round of ammunition was found in the pocket of the Appellant’s clothes. On interrogation, the accused admitted to have been using the firearm to rob people.
The Appellant was arraigned before the District Court of Sumbawanga in Original Criminal Case No. 230 of 2011. He was found guilty of the offence, convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Tshs 1,000,000/= (one million) or in default to serve 10 years’ imprisonment. Dissatisfied, he appealed to the High Court.