27-year-old trader bags 9 months jail term for stealing clothes from laundry shop

A Dei-dei Grade I Area Court in Abuja, on Thursday, sentenced a 27-year-old trader, Hamza Hassan, to nine months imprisonment for stealing clothes worth N125,000 from a laundry shop.

The convict pleaded guilty to the crime and begged the court for leniency.

In his ruling, the Judge, Mr Sulyman Ola sentenced Hassan after he pleaded guilty to theft.

Ola gave the convict an option to pay N30, 000 as fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that the convict who resides in Durumu Area I, Abuja, was arraigned on two counts of criminal trespass and theft.

He said Mr Femi Emmanuel of Duste Alhaji, Abuja, reported the case at the Duste Alhaji Police station on Feb.10, at about 11:30am.

Ogada told the court that at about 9 a.m., the convict criminally trespassed into the complainant’s laundry shop located at shop 22, FCDA plaza, Duste Alhaji and stole five kaftan attires belonging to a customer worth N125, 000.

Ogada further noted that, Hassan was caught behind the shop, just when he was about to escape with the clothes.

He said during police investigation, the convict admitted to the crime.

The prosecution said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 312 and 288 of the Penal Code Law. (NAN)