A man who was arrested after being found stealing an iron sheet in Ruiru has been fined Sh6,000 by a Thika court on his own plea of guilty.

James Muiruri Njoroge appeared before Principal magistrate B.J. Ndeda. He was jailed for 6 months after he was unable to raise the fine. The accused admitted that on January 1 at Gachororo in Ruiru stole one iron sheet valued at Sh600 the property of Victor Karanja Chege.

Alternatively the accused had been charged with dishonestly retaining the stolen iron sheet knowing or having reason to believe it to be stolen. Prosecutor chief inspector Kenneth Kiruai told the court that the complainant was enjoying New Year party with his family in Ruiru when he received information that a suspect had been arrested in his Juja compound stealing an iron sheet.

The complainant rushed at the scene and found the accused and the iron sheet guarded by neighbor. The prosecutor said the accused was escorted to Juja police station where he was re-arrested and formally charged with the offense before the court. Kiruai urged the court to treat the accused as a first offender.