Amuru Grade I Magistrate’s court on Thursday handed a 6-month-jail term to a 45-year-old for a stealing a cock.
Paul Iriama, a resident of Wii Anaka village in Nwoya district had appeared before Joseph Angole, the Amuru Grade I Magistrate charged with theft.
Prosecution led by Ponsiano Okello alleged that on June, 28 this year, at Wii Anaka village, Iriama, a cattle herder stole the chicken belonging to one Edwin Opwonya.
Prosecutor Okello further told court that Iriama was later arrested at a trading centre while trying to the sell the cock valued at 25,000 shillings. According to Okello, the suspect was apprehended and taken to Purongo Police Post and subsequently charged with theft contrary to section 254 (I) and 261 of the penal code act.
In his statement to police, Iriama, from Moroto but employed as a herder in Nwoya, admitted to stealing the chicken but said he was forced by circumstances as he had not been paid for 15 months by his employer, one Martin Opwonypur—a local cattle farmer. Iriama told police Opwonypur owes him a total of 1.5 Million shillings.
The Magistrate, however, did not listen to his Iriama’s plea ordering him to serve his 6-month jail term to serve as a deterrent for would- be- thieves.
