Mechanic bags 2 years jail term for stealing car battery

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 45-year-old man, Muse Sulaimon, to two years imprisonment for stealing a car battery.

Sulaimon with no fixed address, was charged with two counts of unlawful entry and stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, trial went on.

However, on Friday, Magistrate Mrs O.O Odumosu-Akeba, delivered judgment and held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offences.

She convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment on the first count of unlawful entry, and one year in prison for the second count of stealing.

The magistrate sentenced him without an option of fine.

She added that the sentence should run concurrently.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Kehinde Fawunmi, told the court that the convict committed the offences on Oct. 29, at about 6.00 p.m., at Sina Oridota Close, Olokemeji in Ibara area of Abeokuta.

Fawunmi, said the convict entered into the compound of one Mrs Toyin Oridota, and stole a Vehicle Battery valued at N70,000.

He stated that the defendant was a mechanic who used to repair the complainant’s car.

“The defendant gained access to the compound and carried the battery of one black Xterra Jeep, without the knowledge of the complainant.

“He was about coming out of the compound when the complainant sighted him and raised alarm.

“Immediately, he took to his heels, neighbours pursued him, caught him, and handed him over to the police,” he stated.

The prosecutor, however, said the offences contravened Sections 412, 393 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.