A security guard, George Bitrus was on Thursday sentenced to 1 month in prison by a Grade 1 Area Court in Lugbe, Abuja for stealing 18 pieces of corrugated iron sheets.
The 32 years old security guard who is a resident of Jeddo Estate, Abuja was convicted after pleading guilty to a one-count charge of stealing.
He begged the court for leniency, pleading that his employer had not paid him for several months.
"I am sorry, very sorry for stealing the zinc; I am pleading with the court not to convict me.
"I stole the zinc because I don’t have money to take care of myself and my family in the village. I am working but my boss has not paid me since September last year till date,
"My boss said I should wait until he sales his house,’’ he pleaded.
Bitrus explained to the court that the woman he sold six pieces of the roofing sheets to denied buying the said items.
After considering his plea for leniency, the presiding officer, Garba Ogbede sentenced the accused to 1 month in prison with an option of N5,000 fine.
Ogbede ordered that the recovered roofing sheets be returned to the owner.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Miss Oporomo Vivian, had told the court that one Anthony Mmuofunanya of Jeddo Estate had on July 8, lodged a complaint at Iddo Police Station, Abuja.
The prosecutor alleged that the convict who was attached to a building site along Jeddo Estate to protect properties dishonestly converted 18 pieces of roofing sheets to his own use.
She said that during police investigation Bitrus admitted committing the offence while 12 pieces of the roofing sheets were recovered from him.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code, and prayed the court to try the accused summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
The convict could not pay the N5,000 fine and was taken to Kuje Prison to serve the sentence.
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