The police in Unity State’s Leer County have arrested one of their own after a 9-year-old boy detained on suspicion of theft escaped from police custody over the weekend.
The county police director, Colonel Kuany Chan, told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that the boy whose name he did not disclose, is a petty thief who has been arrested before. He said the boy escaped after he was released and escorted to cut firewood for cooking in the evening.
“He is a 9-year-old boy petty thief who enters people’s houses to steal petty things like clothes, shoes, and money among others. He was arrested before and released when he returned the items he had stolen. He is a returnee from Sudan whose parents are not here and he lives in the suburbs. His mother remained in Bentiu,” he explained. “On Saturday, one of the policemen released him and took him to do some work. He hid in a bush and disappeared.”
Asked why a minor was jailed by the police, Col. Chan said he was looked up because he is a habitual thief.
“We locked him up so that he does not steal things because he is a young boy but a thief,” he added.
According to the police chief, the policeman who took the suspect to work has spent four days in custody on a disciplinary charge.
“The policeman is being disciplined so that he does not repeat such a mistake and learn not to be negligent,” Col. Chan stated. “He is still in police custody and should learn how to do police work diligently.”
He said the suspect roams around Leer town, steals to feed himself, and will soon be apprehended.