SASJC 532/3

This case involved the sentence which should be given to two men who had hit and stolen jewellery from a woman. One of the defendants claimed he had not been active in the offence. The Supreme Judicial Council stated the Islamic offence of banditry should apply. If it did not the imprisonment should be increased. The initial sentence given had not been sufficient.

Background

The general attorney filed a case against two defendants claiming they had hit a woman and stolen her jewellery. The first defendant admitted he had hit the woman and stolen her jewellery but the second defendant admitted that he was watching. The general attorney requested the court to apply the Islamic ruling of banditry.

Decision

The court ruled the first defendant should be imprisoned for ten years and the second defendant for six years. The court of cassation upheld the ruling.