A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced one George Bitrus to one month imprisonment for stealing 18 pieces of zinc.
Bitrus, 32, a security guard of Jeddo Estate, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of theft and begged for leniency.
“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.
“My boss said I should wait until he sold his house,’’ the convict told the court.
The presiding officer, Garba Ogbede, who sentenced Bitrus after he begged for leniency, gave him an option to pay N5,000 as fine.
Garba also ordered the police to release the recovered zincs to the complainant.
Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Miss Oporomo Vivian, had told the court that Anthony Mmofunanya of Jeddo estate lodged the complaint at Iddo Police Station, Abuja, on July 8.
Vivian said that the convict who was attached to a site along Jeddo Estate to protect properties dishonestly stole 18 pieces of zincs.
She added that during police investigation, the convict admitted committing the offence and that 12 pieces of zinc was recovered from him.
The prosecutor prayed the court to try him summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justices Act, 2015.
Vivian said the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the convict could not pay the N5,000 fine and was taken to Kuje Prison.
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