Technician jailed for diverting client’s money

A 28-year-old technician, Jacob Onah of Karu village, Abuja, was Thursday sentenced to three months imprisonment by an Abuja Magistrate Court for converting money belonging to one of his clients for personal use.

Jacob was convicted for criminal breach of trust and cheating, offences contrary to Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Police prosecutor, Silas Nanpan, informed the court that on March 6, one Ethel Ebere of Nyanya, Abuja reported at Nyanya Police Station that she entrusted N70,000 to the accused in order to construct an Ice Block Making machine but instead, he absconded without doing the job.

He further told the court that the accused confessed to the crime during police investigations.

When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded guilty and begged for forgiveness, saying that he absconded with his client’s money and used it to offset his debts because of frustration.

Magistrate Chinyere Nwacheonwu sentenced the accused to three months imprisonment or to pay N3,000 as fine option.

The Magistrate also ordered the accused to pay N70,000 as compensation to the complainant.