Pregnant woman jailed for stealing army officer’s phone

Written by Perpetual Umeaku Tuesday, 19 July 2011 00:29

A pregnant woman was yesterday sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment by an Abuja Upper Area Court sitting at Gudu District for stealing a Blackberry phone and N30,000 belonging to one Colonel Mohammed of Garki, Abuja.

Salamatu Mohammed, 39, of Dagba village, Garki Abuja, was convicted for theft and trespass, offences contrary to Sections 342 and 288 of Penal Code.

Prosecutor Frank Omale told the court that one Lance Corporal Emmanuel Israel of National Defence College, Abuja, reported at Garki Police Station that on July 17, the accused trespassed into the army officer’s house and stole a Blackberry phone worth N100,000 with N30,000, adding that the accused was arrested while trying to escape from the premises.

When the charges were read to the accused, she admitted the offences and pleaded with the court for forgiveness, while the prosecutor asked for summary trial.

Presiding Judge Adamu Mohammed Wakili sentenced the accused to six months for theft and nine months for trespass, adding that both sentences should run concurrently. The court however gave the convict options of N5,000 fine for both offences.