A man standing trial for r Obinna Madu, on Thursday told a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Abuja, that he stole Origin bitters and Gordon’s alcoholic beverages due to delay in his salary payment.
The police charged Madu with criminal breach of trust and theft by servant which he pleaded guilty to.
“I have worked in Garden 22, Garki, Abuja for one month and two weeks but have not been paid my salary.
“I bought a phone at “Easy buy Shop, Abuja” for N150,000 to pay installmentally (SIC) and had a deadline to complete the payment on Aug.29.
“I asked for my salary but was told that there was no money that was why I stole 11 bottles of Origin bitters, two bottles of Gordon’s and one bottle of Smirnoff X1.
“Please have mercy on me, I promise never to repeat it again,” Madu said.
The Magistrate, Mr Umar Dodo sentenced Madu to clean the court’s premises for one hour and ordered that the cellphone he bought from Easybuy, be seized from him until Sept.5.
Dodo said that the sentencing would serve as deterrence to other offenders and warned Madu to desist from committing crime and be of good behaviour.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Chinenye Okafor told the court that the complainant and Manager of the garden, Samuel Okoronkwo reported the matter at Garki Police Station.
Okafor said that Madu stole 11 bottles of Origin bitters, two bottles of Gordon’s and one bottle of Smirnoff X1 alcoholic drinks valued N36, 500 on the said date.
The prosecution counsel added that during police investigations the drinks were recovered from Madu.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of section 312 and 289 of the Penal Code.
-NAN
