8 get 3 years jail for idol theft

Eight persons were today sentenced to three years imprisonment by a court here in a case related to theft of 32 idols from 12 temples in Ariyalur district 17 years ago.
Delivering the judgement, Chief Judicial Magistrate V Thenmozhe also acquitted six other accused in the case.
According to the prosecution, the idols were stolen from the temples over a period of time during 2000.
The Idol Wing police registered a case and a total of 22 persons were arraigned as accused. Of this, two persons died and four others were absconding.
The trial was conducted in respect of 14 accused and the CJM convicted eight persons and acquitted six others.

Police had recovered 29 of the stolen idols.