An area court based in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, on Tuesday sentenced a 36-year-old businessman, Paul Bitrus, to three months in prison for buying a stolen vehicle.
However, the panel of two magistrates, Adam Sadiq and Hyacinth Dolnaan, who sentenced Bitrus after he pleaded guilty, gave him a fine option of N25,000.
They also ordered that the stolen vehicle be returned to its owner.
They said the trial would serve as a deterrent to those who wanted to commit such criminal acts.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on November 15, 2022 at the Anglo-Jos police station by a certain Onyekwere Churchill.
The prosecutor said that the convict bought the vehicle for N18 million from one Tardoo Tegbenda, who stole the said vehicle.
Police said the offense was punishable under the provisions of article 302 of the Criminal Code Law.
YAYA
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior written permission of PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
