Corpun file 8808 at www.corpun.com

East African Standard, Nairobi, 7 February 2002

Court Thief Lands 12 Years

A middle-aged man who stole documents and exhibits at the Embu law courts three days ago was yesterday jailed for 12 years and ordered to receive 12 strokes of the cane.

Peter Kathuri was sentenced by Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Kiarie whose court had been broken into. "It is true I committed the offence but I wish to say I am quite remorseful and beg for leniency from the court," Kathuri pleaded in mitigation before the sentence was read to him.

He told Kiarie that he was misled by two of his brothers and a friend to commit the offence on February 2.

On the material day, Kathuri broke into Embu law courts and stole an assortment of items including 106 stones of bhang meant for exhibit in court.