The prosecution told the court that Alia who hails from Ombaci village in Koboko assaulted and injured his sister and also destroyed trees belonging to Patrick Efitre his for allegedly grabbing his land.
The Grade One Magistrates Court in Koboko has sentenced Simon Alia
a Teacher of Modern Secondary School Ocoko in Arua district to 18 months in
Gbukutu Government Prison.
The prosecution told the court that Alia who hails from Ombaci
village in Koboko District assaulted and injured his sister
and destroyed trees belonging to Patrick Efitre for allegedly grabbing his land.
Peter Gukiina the Grade One Magistrate while reading the charge
of malicious destruction of property to the accused said that the prosecution
was beyond reasonable doubt convinced that a Eucalyptus tree plantation belonging to Efitre was unlawfully destroyed.
He was ordered to pay 3 Million Shillings in compensation.
The Resident State Attorney pleaded for a deterrent
sentence on grounds that, the accused is a teacher who needed to be an example
for the rest of the members of the community.
Alia’s brother Onzima Gasper was also ordered to pay 5 Million
Shillings and jailed for one year for participating in the malicious and
destruction of Eucalyptus trees.
Alia’s relatives who were at court expressed happiness over the
court's decision. They argued that Alia had ignored their advice and went ahead
to assault the sister and destroy the Eucalyptus trees.
Candia Stephen
Freelancer