Samuel Obedi, a Junior Pastor at Hope Tabernacle Ministry in Gulu city was on Thursday morning arrested and detained by Gulu Main Market authorities over alleged theft of 1.3 million shillings
Obedi, who also works in the market as a garment seller, allegedly entered his neighbour’s shop and stole Shs 1.3million from the drawer
He was netted by a customer on Thursday morning for picking Shillings one million three hundred twenty thousand from the drawer of his colleague Charles Lukwiya.
He was spotted by Yasin Onekalit who was waiting for Lukwiya outside his lock-up when Obedi sneaked in and pocketed the money. Onekalit says that he immediately notified Ford Onyegiu, the head of security in the market prompting Obedi’s arrest.
Upon his arrest, Obedi pleaded guilty and produced the money claiming that he was possessed by satan when he stole it. Both Obedi and Lukwiya are dealers in general merchandise.
Patrick Omaya, the chairperson of Gulu Main Market says that they immediately convened for disciplinary action as required by their constitution. He says that the disciplinary committee convicted the pastor on his own plea of guilt.
He was fined Shillings 200,000. which he paid immediately and ordered not to step foot within the market for a period of three months effective immediately or risk arrest.
Omaya claims that Obedi contravened Article 4 of the constitution of Gulu Main Market, which states that, “any vendor found guilty of theft or promoting the vice in the market will be suspended out of the market for 3 months and pay a penalty of 200,000 shillings.
