Two men have been jailed for three years for stealing military uniform and impersonating police officers within Isiolo township.
Jimal Ismail and Jarso Omar jointly broke into a locked motor vehicle at Chechelesi area and stole jungle uniform and radio module among other items belonging to Ronald Nyongesa on September 8, 2020.
The accused persons, one wearing the jungle shirt and the other jungle trouser, erected a roadblock at Kambi Garba along Isiolo-Moyale highway impersonating police officers and started soliciting bribes from motorists.
While using a motorbike whose number plates was covered with a plastic bottle, the suspects later erected a roadblock at Gadissa area along Isiolo-Modogashe road.
End to congame
Unaware that their days were numbered, the suspects intercepted a soldier at the Gadissa roadblock and demanded money from him.
The officer, after realizing that the duo were new faces and had not adorn full uniform and one of them had boots with red shoe laces, alerted military police who rushed to the scene and arrested them.
Appearing before Isiolo Principal Magistrate Evanson Ngigi, the duo were charged with stealing from a locked motor vehicle, handling stolen goods and personating a public officer.
The court heard that Mr Ismail dishonestly received military boots, jerk, and pen knife, radio module at Olabule area while knowing that they were stolen goods.
The suspects also retained one of the vehicle’s spare tyres.
The accused persons pleaded guilty to the three charges and sought court leniency.
In his mitigation, Mr Omar said he had a metal implant in his leg and that he was struggling with alcohol addiction.
The court sentenced both to three years imprisonment for the first count and one year jail term for the second and third charges. The jail terms will run concurrently.
“I have considered that the accused persons are remorseful. I have also considered the penalties provided for in the constitution. Each sentenced to three years imprisonment for first count and one year imprisonment for the other counts,” Magistrate Ngigi ruled.
