By Willy Chowoo
Gulu: Gulu Magistrate’s Court has sentenced four residents of Layibi Division to 10 months each in prison after they were found guilty of aggravated torture.
Court heard that Eric Tekwo 18 Richard Lubangakene 24, Alfred Ocira, 31, and Dereck Torach, 20, on November 27, 2015 at Abuga village, Layibi Division, beat Ben Orodi Opiyo for allegedly stealing a laptop, some office documents and ATM card causing him severe pain and injuries.
Presiding judge Deo Ssejjemba said: “Court has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the quartet are guilty of torturing someone.”
State prosecutor William Bayo, however, had told court to hand the suspects a deterent sentence.
But judge Ssejjemba while sentencing the quartet said: “No indiscipline was witnessed during the preceding and they are remorseful and the victim has also greatly improved from the pain and injuries inflicted on him meaning it was not severe”
He then sentenced them to 10 months imprisonment each considering the one year and seven months the convicts have spent on remand at Gulu Central Prison.
He also ordered them to pay a fine of UGX500,000 each after five months of serving their sentences.
