A Kado Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, yesterday sentenced a 27-year-old tailor, Iliyasu Isah, to five months imprisonment for criminal breach of trust and cheating. The judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, however, gave the convict an option of N6,000 fine.
Isah, who resides at Gwagwalada Abuja, was convicted on a two-count charge.
Ado also ordered Isah to pay N25,000 as compensation to the nominal complainant.
The convict, who pleaded guilty to the charges, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, explaining that he used the money for an emergency. Prosecutor Judith Obatomi had told the court that one Nasir Aliyu of Zango Daura Estate, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on Sept. 10.
Obatomi said the convict was given a sewing machine sometime in Aug. 2017 to sell for N25,000. She said he sold the machine and dishonestly converted the money to his personal use.
The prosecutor added that Isah confessed to the crime during police investigation and begged for mercy.
Obatomi said the offences were punishable under sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.
He advised the convict to desist from committing crime, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other would be offenders.
“It pays to be honest and not cheat people,’’ Ado said.