DAR ES SALAAM: THE Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 59 Burundian nationals to either pay a fine of 500,000/- or serve a 12-month prison term after finding them guilty of illegally entering and residing in the country.
The presiding Principal Resident Magistrate, Ushindi Swalo, also ordered that the defendants be deported back to their home country after serving their sentence.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday by Magistrate Swalo after the defendants pleaded guilty.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Swalo stated that given the defendants’ confession and the prevalence of such offences, the punishment is meant to serve as a deterrent to others.
Initially, the charges were read to the defendants by Senior State Attorney Godfrey Gwijo. It was alleged that the accused were facing two charges: illegal entry into the country and unlawful residence.
Regarding the first charge, the prosecution claimed that on June 13, 2023, in Jangwani area of Dar es Salaam region, the defendants were found to have entered the country without any permit or relevant documentation.
The second charge alleged that on the same date, in the same area, the defendants, who were Burundian citizens, were discovered residing in the country unlawfully.
The case involves a total of 60 defendants, with defendant number 43, Barutwanayo Babtiste (19), pleading not guilty to the charges. The State Attorney requested a rescheduling of the trial, which is set to be heard again on August 31, 2023.
