When magistrate Assan Martin last week administered a month’s imprisonment to a chief watchman, many a people in the courtroom were less sympathetic, especially when the penalty awarded went to the man entrusted with the protection of the very thing that he stole.

Yorro Yarboe was a chief watchman with Makasutu Cultural Forest in Kembujeh but was said to have gone on an ‘unwatchmanly’ expedition on 9 November of last year, by stealing the bag of the director of Makasutu Cultural Forest. The bag, valued at D160, was at the time containing some valuable documents.

Yarboe could now go to jail for a month if he fails to pay a court fine of D2,500.