Katakwi-The authorities of Awanyagola Village, Okokoma parish , Akoboi sub county , Katakwi district have lashed 45 canes of strokes to 18 years old thief in their area over alleged breaking into a shop stealing beverages, such as bear, Soda, Packed Waragi and other shop items worth 500,000 shillings.
Steven Aleper, 18 years of age, a resident of Awanyagola Village, Okokoma parish, Akoboi sub county in Katakwi district was caught red handed in the scene of crime parking shop items by the owner of shop Joseph Elungat at 12:00 am and was locked indoor until today’s morning were he suffered consequences of stealing.
Joseph Elunga known as Brown, the owner of a shop located in Ajenebukui trading Center said it’s the 6th time his shop has been broken by thieves and he lost about 1 M shillings.
He further explained that these thieves should be possessing master keys because whenever his shop is broken the door remains unbroken.
The accused Steven Aleper, acknowledged that it’s the third time he has ever stolen the shop of Elungat purposely for him to enjoy drinking at his home.
Aleper pleaded for leniency from the community and accepted a fine of 45 strokes and sold out a garden of cassava Alayo Betty to compensate for the 100 canes that the village set as bylaw for whoever is caught stealing especially at youthful stage.
But Simon Peter Okwakol, the LC one Awanyagola Village also chairman for LC one’s Dadas Parish says the 45 strokes out of 100 canes are the village bylaws set as fine to abort any kind of criminality in the community.
He said it’s the first of its kind since they set up 100 canes as bylaws for stealing.
The LC1 cautions the youth to desist from the act and accept to engage in crop production rather than stealing.
John Omoding, 38, a clan chairperson of Imorio-Ikumitok where the accused hails from also confirms that they have never recorded such a record in their clan except for a case of Aleper.
He however, says that having spoiled their clan with such a bad record of stealing they are set to punish Aleper 50 canes of stroke as their clan constitution mandates.
Betty Alayo , the former Apirant Okokoma parish also a trader at Ajenebuki trading center blames the theft to owner of shop Joseph Elunga Brown who accepts to accommodate people who play cards trans-night at his shop.
