3 girls jailed for one year over goat theft in Rumbek

RUMBEK – A Rumbek Town Court on Tuesday sentenced three young women to one year in prison for stealing 18 goats, with additional fines and compensation ordered.

The Chairperson of Rumbek Town Court B, Daniel Maliap Chawul, said the three girls were found guilty of repeatedly stealing goats for personal consumption and resale.

“The three girls used to steal goats daily in residential areas,” Maliap said. “They slaughtered some goats for sale in the market while keeping other meat for home consumption.”

Following investigations, the court confirmed their involvement in the theft and sentenced each to one year in Rumbek’s main prison.

They were also fined 85,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) and ordered to compensate the owners of the stolen goats.

“Each girl must return six goats as compensation for the 18 stolen goats,” he added, noting that the girls admitted to their actions during the trial.

Daniel Laat Kon, the State Coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), acknowledged the court’s decision, saying it sets a precedent for addressing livestock theft in the community.

“According to the information we received, these three girls were found to have been involved in stealing goats that had gone missing from the area,” Laat said. “The court has sentenced them to one year and three months in Rumbek’s main prison.”

He urged the families of the convicted women to consider appealing the verdict if dissatisfied with the bench court’s decision.

“For us, whatever has gone to court is believed to have followed due legal process. This serves as a lesson to others, including young men and women, that stealing livestock or other immoral acts will result in legal consequences.”

Laat called on families to guide their children to avoid engaging in theft and other unlawful activities, warning that the law will take its course if they fail to comply.

The court relied on the Customary Law and Public Order Act of 2022, which strongly condemns livestock theft.

“Under the law, theft of livestock such as cows, goats, or even beehives is prohibited and carries severe penalties,” Laat explained. “The local bench court applied this law in its judgment.”