Ofuho Joseph Okuyo, 20, Tuesday, hanged himself using a rope after failing to pay a fine for stealing a goat in Haforiere Village in Eastern Equatoria State’s Torit County.
The deceased and three other friends stole a goat, slaughtered, and sold some of the meat to get money to buy alcohol.
This owner of the goat searched for it and after investigations, discovered the culprits. Community members sat to resolve the matter and decided that the four offenders pay a cow each to compensate for the stolen goat.
Galileo Ohide, the paramount chief of Hiyala Payam, told Radio Tamazuj that the deceased’s body was found two days after he left home after the community meeting.
“The deceased participated in stealing a goat from someone called Girchang. They killed the goat, cut the meat into pieces, and sold some of it. Four of them were arrested and the military police in the village caned them. They have their by-laws which stipulate that anyone who participated in stealing a goat will pay one cow each,” he explained. “The deceased called his relatives in Juba to raise money but they told him that they cannot help because this is the sixth time he is involved in theft and that he should deal with the matter.”
Chief Ohide added: “So, it was hard for him and he decided to go to the bush and hanged himself using a rope.”
He warned the youth against stealing and highlighted that theft cases have become rampant in Hiyala Payam due to the high cost of living.
“The issue of stealing is not good and the youth in the area like stealing but it will not take you anywhere because taking someone’s property is a sin,” the chief stated. “Everyone keeps goats or cows as security for any eventualities so that if anything happens, they will sell some to support the family. I often warn people against theft and if you are found guilty, you will be apprehended and face justice.”
For her part, Grace Tobias, an SPLM Party legislator who represents Hiyala Payam in state parliament, condemned the theft but warned the community against taking the law into their own hands.
“What happened is not good and I condemn it. I think these people took the law into their own hands and what they have done is wrong. We heard that when a stolen cow is slaughtered, all the people who eat its meat, even if they are 10, have to pay a cow each,” she asserted. “We do not know where they got this law of theirs and I am appealing to them not to take the law in their hands. When such an incident happens, the perpetrators have to be arrested, it is the law to punish him, but they should not take the law into their hands.”
Meanwhile, Flora Sebit Jada, a civil society activist in Eastern Equatoria State, also condemned community leaders in the Hiyala area for instituting abnormal fines.
“These kinds of laws which are being set anyhow by the communities are good because if someone stole a goat, he should be fined a goat instead of being forced to pay a cow. Was it a cow that was stolen?” she asked. And added: “A goat should be paid with a goat but not four goats. If one goat is stolen, it has to be paid for with one additional goat to make two as a penalty. You should not fine somebody according to your interests. Communities should also know that what they do should not harm other people.”