Man who stole food worth Sh9,775 from employer jailed for nine years

A 30-year-old man was yesterday jailed for nine years by a Mpeketoni court after he was found guilty of stealing food worth Sh9,775 from his employer.

Mpeketoni Resident Magistrate Pascal Nabwana sentenced Seth Hamara Eliza after the probation officer Tashrifa Mohamed gave an unfavourable report about Mr Eliza.

The officer reported that Eliza absconded community social work in a previous conviction for house breaking in March this year and that he was a repeat offender.

Blame alcoholism

The prosecution submitted that Eliza broke into his employer's restaurant at night and walked away with food stuffs.

He was the only one with keys to the food store. Suspicion mounted after he failed to come to work the following day.

Eliza who was unrepresented was convicted on two counts of burglary and theft for which he is to serve five and four years consecutively.

He has an option of paying a Sh250,000 fine. The probation reports blamed alcoholism for the convict's conduct, and recommended a custodial sentence.

This is despite the fact that he had absconded past community service and committed other crimes.

Eliza appeared resigned to his fate when he meekly said "it is ok" after the sentence was read.