Traditional Resolution of Conflicts among Criminalogists
Criminal and civil cases existed prior to lexical or written law (English Common Law). In "Luo Kitgi gi Timbegi", by Ker Paul Mboya: crimes such as voyeurism, fetishism, sodomy, incest, tweeting or peeping Thomas were resolved once upon a time by two courts ;buch piny and /doho. Sorcery(nawi) and paraphernalia (ndagla) were differentiated from magic and prophecy.
Buch piny deliberated on magic (bilo), rain (koth), epidemics , drought, hunger (kech), peace to the land (miyo piny kwe), atoning for the sins of the land or village (loso piny/gweng) ,libation (timo liswa /misango), war (lweny), and burglary.Buch piny also deliberated on killing of animals secretly in order to eat (michiero), banditry(mecho), mania (neko), arson (wango ot), manslaughter (nek mar both), murder (nek maratiro), carnal knowledge of animals (gath), misconduct (terruok), misdemeanor or mischief (wang teko).
Buch doho deliberated on debts (gope) , disagreement (dhawo) , belligerency (jiemo/miero), misfortune or mishap (masira), paranoia (timbe mag achach).
The Two Courts
Either patron (okebe) or patriarch (migosi) was given an insignia (odunga /ludh yalo bura) which he stuck on the ground as he sat upon the judgment stool to preside over buch doho besides the head of clan (jaduong anyuola) the head man jaduong dhoot /wagayi and the policeman (ogulmama). Unresolved matters arising from the judgment known as buch doho were referred to buch piny at the chief's camp (alap) of which the chief presided over accompanied by an old wise man who was well versed in customary laws ,.Awise man was chosen from different villages (dho udi).
The prime minister governed many dominions in Egypt and the Rabbi (Ker) presided over descendants and annexed or conquered ancestral lands.
A latter day Pharaoh (Paru) founded the future capital of Sudan. Among the reknowned Luo Rabbi are Ramogi Olum, Ramogi Ajwang and others
The word RET is traced from the word RWT in Geez language. It means chief or king.The Luo write the word, ruot or ruoth. The Cholo use the word reth to mean king or chief.
In hieroglyphics HRY-HB means 'he who is in charge of the papyrus scroll' that is a priest who read the sacred liturgy at religious ceremonies while HRY-TP means "he who is in charge'
Fines and Punishment
The fines ranged from the smallest to the largest animals; hens and goats.
A person who was criminally minded was severely censured with punishment (gocho) in a "mock" battle of the vilest warrior.
Extra Judicial Decisions
Other judicial matters were resolved at the chief's camp (alap mar ruoth) without resorting to extra judicial decisions e.g., banishment or declaration of a criminal as persona non grata.
References: 1."Luo-English Dictionary", by Asenath Odaga
2."Luo Kitgi gi Timbegi", by Ker Paul Mboya