A few days ago, I was asked to cover a trial in the Yolo neighborhood of the municipality of Kalamu in Kinshasa. Two men were appearing in court, one for stealing
This kind of theft is quite common in Kinshasa and the thieves did not encounter any major problem, since there is hardly ever any power in districts like Yolo. They can take advantage of darkness and it is easier for them to snip the cables since they know that there is no risk of electric shock.
The trial was more like a drama than anything else. Four chairs and a garden table, a sun screen, two judges, one counsel for SNEL and another for the two accused men, and of course a handful of local residents. Journalists were also attending.
The verdict: A twelve months’ jail sentence plus a US$10 fine for the robber and six months’ jail for the receiver. I hope that these criminals will serve their time and that we will not see the same scenario again, of criminals buying their freedom for a small sum of money, after a few weeks.
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