interview the police officers who participated in the beatings and order that
an investigation be carried out. Instead, seven (7) years later, after the
wounds and the resulting scars had become imperceptible, the High Court
purported to weigh his testimony against that of a police officer who was
one of his torturers.
135. He claims the High Court rejected his testimony and admitted his coerced
confession as evidence at trial, thereby denying him a remedy for the torture
he suffered, and thereby allowing the authorities to profit from their abuse.
He argues that this compounded the violation of his right not to be subjected
to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and calls
for a remedy from this Court.
*
136. The Respondent State did not pronounce itself on this issue.
***
137. Pursuant to Article 7(1)(b) of the Charter, every individual has the right to
have his cause heard and the right to be presumed innocent until proven
guilty by a competent court or tribunal.
138. The Court observes that this allegation relates to the Magistrate’s failure to
conduct an investigation after the Applicants reported ill-treatment by the
State authorities.
139. In light of the submissions made by the Applicants and the Respondent
State’s lack of submissions thereon, the Court considers that the
determination of the Applicants allegation has a bearing on the evidence. In
this regard, the Court restates its position in the earlier cited case of
Kennedy Owino Onyachi and Charles John Mwanini Njoka v. United
Republic of Tanzania that in circumstances where the Applicants are in
custody and unable to prove their allegations because the means to verify
the same are likely to be in the control of the State, the burden of proof will
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