Stealing
A Kakamega court has sentenced a 24-year-old man to one-year imprisonment for stealing 328,000 shillings. Weldon Birir Kimutai who appeared before Kakamega Magistrate Principal James J. Masiga was accused of stealing 328,000 shillings and mobile phone model Tecno Pop 8 valued at 18,000 from a salesperson, Edwin Kimutai.
He had been given till June 10, this year to clear 328,000 shillings he admitted to have stolen from the salesperson in Kakamega town on May 30, 2024.
The salesperson was expected to hand over the money to his manager, Sarjit Patel when the accused person requested to use his phone to make a phone call. But he suddenly took off with the phone before switching it off. This prompted the complainant to report to Safaricom shop where he was informed that the money in his phone had been withdrawn.
The mobile service provider showed that 50,000 shillings had been withdrawn at an Mpesa agent shop, 151,000 shillings send to the accused person’s number, 100,000 transferred to Elizabeth Tanui while the remaining 27,000 shillings was sent to Brian Rotich summing up to a total of 328,000 shillings.
“It is true that I stole a phone and money from Edwin,” he admitted before the court. Sarjit Patel, the manager of Kitui Flour Mills reported the case to the police upon which investigations were conducted before the accused was found and arrested at Ketei, Kericho County.
The police officers recovered 139, 000 shillings in cash from him before he directed them to his house in Kericho Town where they found the stolen phone. He was subsequently brought back to Kakamega Police Station the following day. The court had given the accused up to June 10, this year to pay up remaining 189,000 shillings when a ruling would be delivered.
“Ensure you refund the whole amount by Monday, June 10th, 2024 when your case determination will be delivered,” said the Principal Magistrate. Birir however failed to return the remaining amount within the stipulated time, making him attend more sessions as the court gave him more time.
He appeared before the court twice after which the Principal Magistrate decided to give a ruling. “I have found you guilty and you will therefore serve a one-year sentence”, he ruled