A man at the centre of a BBC Africa Eye investigation has been found guilty of trafficking disabled people in Kenya and ordered to pay a fine of 30,000,000 Kenyan shillings ($242,000; £196,000) or face 30 years in prison.
Last June, a BBC undercover investigation exposed a human trafficking network smuggling disabled children from Tanzania to Kenya.
Many were taken from their parents with the promise of a better life. Instead, the children were forced to beg on the streets - often for years - while their captors took all of the profits.
Some of the victims alleged they were beaten if they did not make enough money.
James Zengo Nestory was arrested and has now been convicted by a court in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
“I have also noted that you are disabled. Prison might not be a good environment for you," said magistrate Agnes Wahito.
"This is your first offence so I have given you the minimum sentence to pay 30,000,000 [shillings]. If you don’t have [that] you will be jailed for 30 years in prison.
Latest Stories
-
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
30 mins -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
43 mins -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
53 mins -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
57 mins -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
1 hour -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
1 hour -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
1 hour -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
2 hours -
Postecoglou backs Bentancur appeal after ‘mistake’
2 hours -
#Manifesto debate: NDC to enact and pass National Climate Law – Prof Klutse
2 hours -
‘Everything a manager could wish for’ – Guardiola signs new deal
2 hours -
TEWU suspends strike after NLC directive, urges swift resolution of grievances
2 hours -
Netflix debuts Grain Media’s explosive film
3 hours -
‘Expired’ rice scandal: FDA is complicit; top officials must be fired – Ablakwa
3 hours -
#TheManifestoDebate: We’ll provide potable water, expand water distribution network – NDC
4 hours