A man has been handed a hefty 10-year prison sentence without the option of a fine for his involvement in vandalizing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line fencing post, putting the lives of passengers at risk.
The culprit, Mangale Yawa, was found guilty of damaging a valuable Ksh.30,000 SGR line fencing post owned by the Kenya Railways Corporation.
The Mariakani Court Principal Magistrate Nelly Adalo presided over the case and delivered the conviction, imposing the substantial imprisonment as punishment.
In addition to vandalizing the fencing post, Yawa was also found guilty of stealing four D10 metal rods, each measuring approximately 6 feet, and around 5kg of metal hooks, all belonging to the Kenya Railways Corporation and valued at Ksh.30,000. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed these charges against the accused.
“Yawa was also found guilty of stealing four D10 metal rods, approximately 6 feet each, and approximately 5kg of metal hooks, all valued at Ksh.30,000 and belonging to Kenya Railways Corporation,” the ODPP noted.
Moreover, Yawa faced another conviction for escaping from lawful custody after managing to flee from a police vehicle when he was being arrested.
The incident occurred at Taru police station in Kinango sub-county, within Kwale County.
During the trial, Magistrate Adalo meticulously assessed the prosecution’s evidence, led by Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel (SPPC) Angela Fuchaka.
Ultimately, the court found that the prosecution had successfully proven the case against Yawa beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to his conviction.
