The Senior Principal Magistrate of Kenya’s Mombasa law courts, Vincent Adet has pardoned a couple accused of stealing a bale of wheat flour, K24 TV reports.
The couple, identified as Saumu Ali, and Evans Odhiambo, were
brought before the magistrate court for stealing a flour worth Ksh. 1,980 from
Grain Industries Ltd on April 13 at Shimanzi area in Mvita.
During a hearing in April, the duo pleaded guilty to all the
charges, but also told the court that they committed the act to feed their
kids, who had gone without food for several days.
The woman, who is the first accused, claimed she was going about
her daily routine when her husband beckoned on her to assist him in carrying a
bale of flour from a car parked nearby.
She pleaded that she only stole to feed her kids and begged for
leniency, swearing never to steal again.
The husband also admitted to stealing food for their children to
feed. He claimed to be a scrap metal dealer who had lost his job as a result of
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s scrap metal prohibition
In his ruling on Wednesday, May 11, Principal Magistrate Vincent
Adet freed the accused, noting that he had considered the probation report
presented before his court by the probation officer. On humanitarian ground, he
appealed the members of the public, press men, and law enforcement officers
present at the court to make freewill donations to refund for the accused to
fend for their family.
“On humanitarian grounds,
especially for the first accused person, I have considered the circumstances
under which the offence was committed and I sympathize with her situation, with
three kids under her care and no source of income and am of the view that let buy
her a bale of wheat flour and some meat for today,” K24 TV quoted Adet.
