Two years imprisonment for stealing timber By Rose Mwatee and Christine Shambi A man who broke into a house in Taita Taveta County and stole timber was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The accused, Hannington Nyange pleaded not guilty before the Wundanyi Senior Resident Magistrate, Mrs. Maissy Chessang. He was charged that on July 7, 2013 at Shigharo village in Wundanyi Sub- County he broke into the house of Nicholas Nyange and stole six pieces of timber and two kilograms of white wash all valued at sh. 2,510. The accused faced an alternative charge of maliciously damaging property contrary to section 339 (1) of the penal code. The complainant who works at Mini bakeries in Machakos town told the court that he was informed that someone had broken into his house. He further told the court that he travelled back home and found a padlock and bathroom window had been broken and the accused was illegally living in his house. A prosecution witness, Nicodemus Mwazoma, told the court that he had gone to cut grass at the place where the incident had occurred. The witness said he found the accused breaking into the house and when he attempted to question him, the accused told him to shut up. The witness told the court that he went to report the matter to Wundanyi Police Station where the accused was arrested and charged. Willis Mghendi, a police officer, who visited the scene of crime, confirmed to the court that indeed the complainant’s house had been broken into and the accused was living there. The accused was given 14 days to appeal against the sentence.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:33:10 +0000