Vengeance Mission

Chapter Twelve (the judgement)

Chapter Twelve

The judgement

Bolakale's father looked into Lanre's eyes and said my son has been into all this and you didn't tell him to trend softly.

Sir, honestly, he did not tell me anything about it until after the kidnapped boy was released and reunited with his parents.

And I blamed him for doing that. He told me of his activities even way back to the town that he had to burn my uncle's barn and farmland for the ill treatment he gave us after the demise of our parents.

Just hearing this for the first time, Bolakale's dad said. He has turned himself to a secret fighter for those who were suffering unjustly in the hands of cruel and heartless lecturers. Even when such were not aware of his activities.

Easily, he was able to gather students of like mind to facilitate his intentions. Though I remembered telling him to be nice to your family, because your father has been of great help to me in life.

As such, he should do everything possible to help and defend your family.

The divisional police officer came back and said, that he had made consultations with the commissioner of police as promised to know how to determine their case.

He said, they had to appear in court tomorrow morning by 9am As such, they will be in the police custody until then.

Lanre looked the direction of Bolakale and bursted into tears.

The divisional police officer, faced Bolakale and his colleagues, stand up and get into the pickup van. They all stood and went into the waiting van with three police officers at the back of the van.

Though they all appear arm less but the police were not taking chances and the driver zoomed off to the police station with great speed. All their parents looked into one another faces and concluded that they would meet them at the police station to have an idea of how they would be housed. At least to ensure that they were not kept with hardened criminals. And also to arrange for what they were going to eat.

Each of their parents found their ways to the police station because they all had their own personal vehicles. Thank God none of their mom was present, so it was only their fathers that were present.

Each of them bought food for his child and handed it over to the officers in charge for onward transmission to their children. Each parent was made to taste the food brought to ensure they were not poisoned by parents.

They were made to eat their food before their parents, after which they were allotted to three different cells. The divisional police officer made sure they were not kept with criminals.

To every one of us in the cell: the night was unusually long, mosquitoes, the heat, no good ventilation, the smell was unbelievable, but thank God it's morning. We will be brought outside to enjoy fresh air.

We were brought out of the cell and kept behind the counter. But this time fully handcuffed.

Lanre told his colleagues that if their experience is this nasty just for a night. Then if found guilty and sentenced to about a year or two years jail term, then it's going to be hell on earth.

At this point, every one of us felt sober for the kidnap at least for the first time.

We were made to appear before the court to determine our fate.

Our dads were all around to identify with us.

It was made clear to us that by section 273 of the penal code, whoever kidnaps another person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which extend to ten years and also liable to fine.

The plaintiff counsel arose and said: The defendants were criminally liable for kidnapping the boy as their act of kidnapping and demand for ransom which was collected from the father of the kidnapped boy goes to prove that the defendants had the intent of kidnapping that is the Actus reus (action) and mensrea (intention) corroborates each other which establishes the commission of the crime.

The defendants' counsel arose and said: though

the defendants indeed kidnapped the victim however, the fair treatment melted out on the victim while in custody of the defendants showed that the defendants had no intention of hurting the victim coupled with the eventual deposit of the proceed of the ransom into the university's account in the name of the victim's father, this goes to show that the defendants had no mensrea (intention) of committing a crime but only toed that path to teach the victim's father a lesson which he has achieved.

The judge said these were my findings and judgment:

Having examined the evidences of the prosecution as well as that of the defense, the following facts had been deduced:

1. There was a kidnap of the victim

2. The defendants were responsible for the kidnap

3. The victim's father paid ransom to the defendants before the victim was released

4. The victim's father had been involved in so many acts of indiscipline towards the students in school

5. The proceed (ransom) from the kidnap was paid into the school account by the defendants.

6. The victim was not maltreated while in custody of the defendants.

It should be noted that crime should not be encouraged under any guise or circumstance. By the facts before the court, the defendant's Actus reus established the commission of the crime of kidnap but the mensrea (intention) does not corroborate the action, which would in a way mitigate the severity of the punishment for the offence committed.

In the circumstance, I found the defendants guilty of kidnap and they are hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of one month's community labor at the University stadium between the hours of 8am to 2pm daily.

Arise, and every one stood up for the judge to go to his office.

Thank God you were not jailed, the parents said

To be continued..