Man gets four-year jail term for stealing sufurias on Christmas

Maralal, Kenya: A man has been handed four years in jail for breaking into a neighbour's house and stealing sufurias on Christmas day in Maralal town.

He was accused accused of breaking into the neighbor’s house with his wife.

Maralal Court Senior Resident Magistrate jailed Dominic Letirikwan on Wednesday and released his wife Rebecca Lenagiron, who was also charged for the theft that was allegedly committed on diverse dates between December15 and December 29, 2014.

The couple was jointly charged for breaking into Loitiku Lesiamito's house to steal three sufurias and other utensils.  Lesiamito was away when the theft occurred for last December.

Other items stolen, according to complainant, include, spoons, a blanket, three bags, a mattress, a television set, a jiko, a DVD player, four pairs of shoes, two hotpots and assorted clothes all worth Sh38, 000.

Lesiamito told the court that he received a phone call from a neighbour, who informed him that his house had been broken into through the window while enjoying Christmas holiday in his rural home.

He arrived the following day and reported the theft at Maralal Police Station and investigations were launched leading to the arrest of the couple.

The stolen property were traced to the couple's house on February 22 after a school bag belonging to the complainants daughter was found in the couple's home with other stolen items.

The couple also faced an alternative charge of handling stolen property.

In mitigation, Letirikwan pleaded with the court for leniency saying he is the family's bread winner.

Rebecca was released for lack of sufficient evidence.