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A man accused of sending abusive text messages to his estranged wife and her parents has been given an option of paying a Sh100,000 fine or serve a jail term of three years in prison by an Eldoret Court.

The accused, Fidel Ochieng was slapped with the sentence after he pleaded guilty to the charge of sending the offensive text messages to Sharon Bwonya and her father.

Ochieng caused a stir in the dock as he pleaded with the Senior Resident Magistrate Nancy Baraza to have mercy on him saying that he did not intend to disrespect or offend his wife and father in-law.

“I accept that indeed I sent the offensive text messages to my estranged wife and father in-law and it was just out of anger. I did not intend to disrespect them at all and that is why I am asking for your forgiveness,” pleaded Ochieng.

While reading the verdict, the magistrate concurred with the sentiments of the prosecution noting that the words used by the accused were not only full of obscenities but also lacked respect to the complainant and her parents.

She said that it was wrong for the accused to have gone as far as insulting his parent’s in-laws and yet they were not part of their conflict.