MACHAKOS,Kenya, Feb, 1- Five people accused of stock theft and handling stolen goods after they were arrested on January 17, 2021 were arraigned ready to learn their fate.
Appearing virtually before Principal Magistrate Bernard Kasavuli from the Athi River police station, one out of the five accused pleaded guilty to the charges.
The four others who took plea pleaded not guilty.
The first accused, Ngenoi Seketo Hilalu, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in jail without an option of a fine.
Peter Njenga, David Kachora, George Nganga and Mutende Selalohowever pleaded not guilty to stock theft and handling stolen goods.
Hilalu had sought the leniency of the court saying that he was ready to reform and leave behind his old ways.
The four will now be remanded to the Kitengela G.K prison pending hearing on April 13, 2022.
The case will be mentioned on February 16,2022.
The five were apprehended following weeks of investigations led by detectives from the directorate of criminal investigations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the criminal organisation used locals to conduct ‘ground-work’ later informing them on which village to raid.
The criminal syndicate is said to have been operating in Machakos, Kajiado, Nairobi and Kiambu county.
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