Theft on the Site and Interesting African Village Perspective

Two weeks ago we had some materials stolen from the site. By our store-keeper's records we were missing 24 sticks of 2x4 and one small steel beam. After questioning the men on the site and our night watchman, my foreman Fred launched an investigation. With the surprisingly enthusiastic cooperation of the village leaders, Fred soon found 18 sticks of 2x4 on a neighbors property. Our men identified those 2x4s as ours, and the neighbor eventually told the village chairman that he bought the 2x4s from Simon, one of our laborers and a fill-in weekend watchman.
Simon was found and questioned. He initially denied the accusation, but when confronted with the evidence against him he confessed. When pressured, he also confessed to having stolen and sold the steel beam, as well as the remaining 6 sticks of 2x4. At the judgement of the village council, we reclaimed our 18 sticks of 2x4 and the steel beam, but since the remaining six 2x4s had already been used to build a roof, Simon agreed to repay us in cash for those pieces. He will also have to return the money he took from the neighbor in exchange for the 18 2x4s he sold.
Obviously, we all felt very betrayed. Many of the men in our crew requested that Simon return to publicly confess and ask for forgiveness. When it was discovered that the materials were missing, the whole crew became very nervous, as it meant that they could be implicated in the theft and may lose their jobs. But there were also some very interesting and thoughtful things that happened next.
It was suggested by some that we turn Simon over to the police, and I discussed this option with Fred. He told me that the village council had discussed this option in their meetings with Simon and concluded that it benefits everyone much better to deal with the situation personally and quietly. The village Secretary said, “We would turn this man over to the police, but after he served his sentence, then where would he go? He would return here!” The chairman agreed, saying quotably, “After all, he is us!” What he meant, of course, is that he is one of us, a member of our body, and we should make a decision that benefits every member of our body.